New Addition to the Guide.

This new restaurant in Sawyer is a great addition to a great independent restaurant area along the shoreline. Fitzgerald's in downtown Sawyer is modeled after "Public Houses" or "pubs" as we know them from the British Isles. This one even has a feeling of a "speak easy" since you enter thru curtains. Great atmosphere with a nice menu. For lunch you can get the daily "pub roast" which varies in selection choices of beef, pork or turkey. They always have french onion soup. Also, try the fish & chips or the shepherd's pie. For dessert try the sticky toffee pudding. Great selection of Michigan microbrew beers and Michigan wines among others. Most are available by the glass. The knowledgeable bartender Carry can help with pairings if needed. For dinner you can still have the fish & chips and shepherd's pie or try the roasted chicken, country cassoulet (french) or cherry pork madeira. They make a strong effort to use local ingredients as much as possible. Many from local farmer's markets. Same desserts as well as some special things baked up by the inhouse baker (Carry again). I had warm from the oven apple turnovers the day I was there. They also have special events and live jazz music on Thursday evenings. Don't miss this one.

New Addition to the guide. I finally tried this place.

I finally tried this place after several people highly recommended it. Chinn-Chinn in Mattawan may be the best Asian restaurant I have experienced. I really like lettuce wraps, theirs are very good. My favorite chinese meal is Kung Pao Beef. They give you a choice for heat from 1-10. Their food is fantastic! My wife had the My Little Hibachi chicken which was flame broiled with pineapple soy glaze which she really liked. For dessert we had the homemade chocolate won tons. The place is small and you can expect to wait for a table, but it is worth the wait! If you like P. F. Chang's this is better. I would consider this a destination place worth the drive from anywhere in southwest Michigan. This restaurant is owned by the former Peking Palace people, but I think this is far better. Check the guide for details and hours.

Outside the area, but you have to try it!

Sign says the only Gizzard City in the World. Joe's Gizzard City in Potterville, MI just north of Charlotte is truly a one of a kind place! Featured in "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" on the food channel, this place is the home of deep frying. The gizzards are from special south american chickens and are not the stomach, but instead the muscle around the stomach. They pressure boil them with loads of spices to get them tender, then dip them in their special batter before frying. They also have fried chicken, burgers, steaks and fish. Something for everyone in the family. When Guy Fieri came to town they expanded from frying the burger patty to frying the entire burger bun and all. This is now known as the "Triple D Burger". It was excellent. I had one along with a bowl of Joe's homemade chili. They have a full bar and desserts. Try the popular "Frinkie" which is a deep fried twinkie! I had the fried "Smore". They also have fried oreos, cookie dough and cheesecake.

New "made from scratch" place added in Plainwell

I like places where everything is made from scratch! If you feel the same way, you have to try Nancy's Kitchen Kafe in Plainwell next to Plainwell Ice Cream. Nancy started with catering and box lunches, however this last spring opened up a restaurant in the back. Small but nice. The prices are more than fair and the food is great! I had the the Cran-Turk Cheese for $6.75. This was a whole wheat wrap with real roasted turkey, cream cheese and some amazing cranberry chutney that Nancy found and will eventually run out of till next year. One of the best sandwiches I have had! I also warmed up with her Chicken Gumbo soup which was very good. She has a different homemade soup every day. Dinner specials are ever changing as well. For January it was Chicken and Dumplings every Thursday! This place also serves breakfast on Saturdays. Check the guide for more details, such as hours and web address.

New Addition, a 50's Style Diner in Kalamazoo

A new 50's style diner with great barbeque in Kalamazoo. Check out the Metro Diner & 411 Blues Club. We went on a Thursday evening around 8pm. The diner is in between a large bar and a smaller Blues Club. I had a great 1/2 rack of ribs with their homemade bbq sauce along with a baked potato and coleslaw for only $7. My wife had an omlet (served till 2am) with hashbrowns and toast for only $3.50. While we were eating the blues music started up next door which was open to us thru large cutouts so we could watch as well as listen. We had a couple of drinks and stayed till 10:30pm. Blues is Thursday-Sunday nights. Check the guide for more details. Great place...especially if you like barbeque and blues!

100 Years! Amazing.

Hard to believe, but Cascarelli's of Albion has reached the unimaginable milestone of 100 years. I was lucky enough to be invited thru my friend Ed H. to the invitation only party of about 300 to celebrate this momentous event. The party was nice with great food and a special 100 year anniversary ale made specially for them by Bell's of Kalamazoo. A nice Jazz band set the mood with a full house.

If you are in the area in the next 5 months, they are running many specials with old fashioned recipes and prices. I highly recommend you stop for a visit. Congratulate Jim Cascarelli and his family.

100 years! They must be doing something right. Try the pizza. Check the guide for more details.

This place is not common

The Common Grill is not in Southwest Michigan, however it is such a good place I thought I should tell you about it in case you pass through Chelsea sometime. This restaurant was started in an old downtown department store building by Jeff Daniels father who owns the local lumber company. It opened on the same night as Jeff's popular Purple Rose Theater. They tapped a top chef from the Chuck Muer restaurants (Charley's Crab, Big Fish etc.) Craig Common is the chef and namesake to this top Michigan restaurant. The food is mostly Seafood with steaks & chicken offerings as well. They are also famous for salads and desserts, but don't miss the seafood chowder and the homemade dinner rolls. You can get any of this at the carryout as well. On my recent visit the day before Thanksgiving with my daughter, Jeff Daniels was sitting at the counter talking with his friend Craig Common. We left him alone like the people in Chelsea do. The meal was great and you have to try this place when in the area. Many think it is better than any place in Ann Arbor. The prices are a little high but well worth it. Casual dress and full bar.