Great Pizza in Battle Creek

This place in Battle Creek has been a landmark for 50 years. Great thin crust pizza and pop are all you will find at Volcano Pizza, however that is enough. The toppings including the cheese are traditional but excellent quality. The crust really stood out to me because it was light and crispy. They serve their round pizza cut into long strips. The inside seating is comfortable and clean although a little plain. Great pride in product has carried this place for all these years making it one of the oldest in Battle Creek. Check out the guide for more details.

Do you like Cheese?

New in Texas Corners, The Cheese Lady has over 65 cut to order cheeses from around the world. I know this is not a restaurant, however my daughter is the cheese lady! All cheeses are available for tasting. For example you could taste all eight bleu cheeses from six countries. The great cheeses of the world are here like Stilton and Brie along with some Michigan and Midwest U.S. cheeses. These tasty morsels are artisanal and farmstead products made in small batches the old world way. She has bloomy rind cheeses, washed rind cheeses, flavored cheeses, goats milk and sheeps milk cheeses and one cheddar that is aged 5 years. She even has limburger! The store is filled with cheese accompaniments such as crackers, olives, spreads, pickles, jams, chutneys, balsamics, olive oils, cured meats and more.

Natalie started selling cheeses at the "Fresh on Q" farmers market and opened across the street. Thanks to the incubation efforts from Fair Food Matters and their Can-Do kitchen as well as the farmers markets in Texas Corners, Vicksburg and Lawrence, along with the mentoring help of The original Cheese Lady in Muskegon, they can all lay claim to a graduate who now has opened a retail shop! This is the only "cut to order" cheese shop within 90 miles. Come see The Cheese Lady of Kalamazoo! Or when in Muskegon visit The Cheese Lady in downtown. Check out the guide for more information.

Dean's Ice Cream re-opens!

Great news! Dean's Ice Cream in Plainwell has reopened after the total loss arson fire last September. This place was opened as a dairy by Al Dean in 1916. This 95 year old landmark makes their own ice cream and offers 36 flavors including blue moon. They are known for the "monster" which is a 44oz. shake and giant banana splits. This place has great ice cream and is located on the river on the edge of a park with a Veteran's Memorial. Nice setting to get your ice cream and roam around or let the kids play. The building is new, but the location and tradition remain the same. Check out the guide for more details.

Old Fashioned Soda Fountain with food!

In 1922 the Chicago Candy Kitchen(since 1918) was sold and renamed after the new owners, Antonio and Emilia Caruso. Caruso's Candy Kitchen in Dowagiac has changed very little since that time. The italian marble soda fountain is still used as well as the old fashioned booths and tin ceiling. This place is still in the Caruso family now working on the fourth generation! This is one of my favorite candy stores with fantastic toffee. They have all your ice cream favorites and some unique offerings like a "scotch lassie" or a "sauerkraut sundae". Try the Toffee Sundae. However, don't think of this place as just a soda fountain or candy store. They have very good sandwiches, soups and salads. Try their famous olive nut sandwich. I could not believe how good this very unique combo was. Lots of other choices include olive salad, chicken salad, tuna salad, egg salad or ham salad. I am starting to see a trend. Some Specialty's are their rueben, a dry tuna and a shredded ham with salami called "The Caruso". Have lunch while saving room for an ice cream treat and take some great homemade chocolates home and you will have a great treat in downtown Dowagiac! More details in the guide.

Best kept secret in Kalamazoo

Most people around Kalamazoo are familiar with the 29 year old home delivered meal and catering company called The Ample Pantry. They have long been known for fresh top quality ingredients and tasty good food! However, many people do not know that you can go have lunch at their nice cottage on KL Ave. The menu is not nearly as extensive as their home delivered dinners. They serve mostly soups, sandwiches and some daily lunch type specials. Very nice desserts are available to finish off with. Lots of people talk about their hot chicken salad which is always on the lunch menu. I have tried it and was very impressed! I have also had the soup and sandwich special which was plenty of food and very tasty. They do offer salads or a soup and salad option. My favorite is the hot chicken salad with their broccoli salad as my side dish. The brownie afterward was small, making it perfect for lunch. The dessert prices are very reasonable so take something home if you don't save room. Great atmosphere, good service and top quality tasty food. Check out the guide for more details.

More beer in Kalamazoo!

New multi-tap place in downtown Kalamazoo, featuring 28 taps with rotating selections from around the world. Called the Kalamazoo Beer Exchange. The beers are shown on their flat screen TV's displayed like stocks on the Dow. This results in "market" prices that give you an ever evolving "happy hour"! Even though they name themselves for beer, this is a good restaurant. Several salad choices including strawberry chicken spinach with apples, candied walnuts, gorgonzola and blush wine vinaigrette. Three soups daily. Two of which don't change. The Wisconsin Beer Cheese and the French Onion. Check the blackboard for the blue-plate special or try their excellent sandwiches for lunch. Grilled salmon, pulled pork sloppy joe or maybe the piedmontese beef burger from Italy. Dinner offers chops, fish, crepes, steak and pasta. Try chef Bill's mac & cheese with three cheeses and truffle oil! Other offerings are the appetizers and snacks like pizza, wings, nachos or a beer steamed hot dog with detroit coney sauce. Neat 2 level place with an open kitchen. Great for food and beer! Check out the guide for more details.

Sports bar in beach town

This place has quickly filled a niche for a sports bar. Joe's Bar & Grill in South Haven has become "the" place to watch sports in this beautiful harbor town. The large flat screen TVs everywhere make where you sit meaningless. They also have seating outside and on the rooftop in good weather. The rooftop would be great during the fireworks! The menu is filled with your usual bar food, however they do a better job with it. The burgers are very good and if you want bacon on your burger or a blt, they use applewood smoked bacon. If you want a fish sandwich, they will hand dip it in their own beer batter. I really liked my corned beef brisket sandwich on their brioche onion roll. Good soups and chili as well as their famous fish and chips. Lots of appetizers and great beer selection. Check it out when you are in town. Check the guide for more details. Also, watch out for the $185 towing charge from Lee's towing(two miles),(cash only) if you park in the closed auto parts store lot!