New in 2014. Peruvians moved to our area to be close to family after retirement. Unable to find any Peruvian restaurants in the entire state of Michigan, they drove to Chicago when they craved their favorite foods from their homeland. Now, they have blessed our corner of the state with El Inka a Peruvian Bistro in Kalamazoo. Nice comfortable space with native decorations on the walls. They had a rotisserie oven shipped from Peru so they could bring pollo a lo brasa to us. The whole chickens are marinated in Peruvian spices and cooked rotisserie style. This is now their signature dish. I had purple corn drink to start which was interesting. We tried aji de gallina which was a creamy yellow sauce over chicken and potatoes and topped with a slice of hard boiled egg. Also, try the ceviche which is raw fish marinated in citrus and chilis and is the most popular dish in Peru. We did try dessert as well which was rice pudding with a little cinnamon and warm fruit compote on top. Very good! I have never heard of most dishes offered here so this will be an adventure as we return to try many other dishes. They have applied for a license to sell alcohol in the future. Check out the guide for more details.

This place is my favorite breakfast place. I have a lot of ones I really like, but this is the one. Most people do not even know about this place. They have never advertised and I didn't know they existed for their first 21 years even though I had walked and driven by many times. A friend with a cottage in Saugatuck asked if I had ever been to Ida Red's Cottage? I thought it was a rental. After he told me, I had to check it out. I have been going every chance I get since then. It is small with limited hours and the wait to get in is usually long. However, if you like everything made from scratch using only the best and freshest ingredients, you have to go get in line. The homemade raspberry muffins are perfect. Especially with a glass of fresh squeezed orange or grapefruit juice. Lots of omelets and other egg dishes. (Check the specials board) Great pancakes and waffles. Everything has a unique twist from Asian, Greek, or Spanish to whatever the cook wants to do that day. My wife loves the potato pancakes which are not a regular item. I would drive a hour just to have breakfast here. As long as I have been going, the same people seem to work there. This is as good as it gets. Check the guide for more details.

New in 2013. At least as a sit down place. Maestro's Pizza at 12th Street and Milham Road by Wedel's Nursery has moved from being a take out place in the nearby party store since 2011 to their own space in the nearby strip mall. The local owners are Matt and Deanna Watson who run this sit down pizza and sandwich place with a full bar. Excellent thin crust pizza cut in triangles so you can fold it and eat it New York style. The dough, sauce and Italian sausage are all homemade. The mushrooms are fresh, not from a can. I am looking forward to my next visit to try the salads and a calzone with a frosty mug of beer. Great location, local owners and excellent food make this a winner. Check out the guide for more details.

Great view of the lake with "low country" food

New in 2012. This place has a great view of the Lake with lots of windows making Fat Cam's at Garver Lake worth the drive to the Edwardsburg area. The facility is two floors with a nice open atmosphere. The food is very good with lots of "low country" influence. The sandwiches for lunch are not ordinary. How about a shrimp po'boy with remoulade sauce or bbq pulled turkey? They do have other sandwiches and burgers as well. Appetizers include crab fritters. Other "low country" cuisine starts after 4pm and you can try the one I had called Gumbo Ya-Ya which is their signature item. It is southern stew with shrimp, andouille sausage, turkey and veggies served over rice with some great hush puppies. Also, check out the blackened catfish or the bayou pasta tossed in a cajun alfredo. They do offer a ribeye steak and even have one offered on the kids menu. Chicken breast, salmon or a porterhouse pork chop round out the dinner menu. Full bar with mojitos and lots of micro-brew selections with local influence. For dessert do not miss their already famous bread pudding! Nice place with great view and very good food. Check out the guide for more details.

I know they are a chain!

I don't usually blog about chain restaurants, but I really like this one. I have been waiting for the new Five Guys Burgers and Fries to open in Portage. My daughter introduced us to them in the D.C. area a few years ago. Excellent burger and the fries are just as good. Not much else to say since this is basically all they do. This may be the best burger chain in the U.S. This one is not going into the guide because it is a large national chain, however I did want to tell you it is now open and they are very good!

Wood fired flatbread pizza!

How about a new place in South Haven with outdoor seating? Run by the same people who already bring you great places like Julia's Cafe' and The Phoenix Cafe'. Brix Corner Oven is in an old filling station using the front part of the Sea Glass store. Using just the outdoors they have a full bar under the old filling station canopy along with patio tables(some with umbrellas) so you can sit outside and people watch while enjoying a canned beverage(no glass) and the smell of wood fired ovens that are preparing your flatbread pizza. Lots of fresh topping choices and only good ingredients which is the hallmark of these owners. Some salads and sandwiches, however the best comes from the oven! Neat seasonal place. Nice addition to South Haven. Check out the guide for more details.