Press Release – Mid Michigan Food Bank

21 07 2008

From a press release

Red Cross collects food and money donations at the

‘Food Fight’ at Sam’s Club

(Lansing, MI)

 

Saturday, July 19, 2008 at Sam’s Club on Edgewood Blvd., the Mid-Michigan Food Bank raised over $12,240.00 and collected some 26,300 pounds of donated food. The people of the Lansing area showed their caring and concern by generously donating much-needed items such as peanut butter and tuna fish. 26,300 pounds of food will stock the food bank’s mobile food pantry for one of its weekly trips. Shoppers and donors could also purchase hot dogs and pop donated by Sam’s Club, with those proceeds also going to the Mid-Michigan Food Bank. Local radio stations from 99.1 WFMK, 100.7 WITL, 97.5, 94.9 WMMQ, The Game 730 AM, Newstalk 1240AM (Citadel Broadcasting Company) were on-location all day, as were Fox 47 News and WILX News 10, all helping to load the food in the pouring rain. Ralph Shaheen of Shaheen Chevrolet brought over two trucks, which were filled with food 22 times. Shaheen Chevrolet also very generously donated 40% of the cash raised. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Food News, Lansing

Salmonella Found in Jalapeno’s….from Mexico

21 07 2008

So, the FDA may have screwed over tomato growers.   The same strain of salmonella was found on a jalapeno pepper imported from Mexico.

The Food and Drug Administration has found salmonella bacteria on a jalapeño pepper imported from Mexico and warned consumers Monday not to eat fresh jalapeños and products made with fresh jalapeños.

The bacteria was found at a distribution center in McAllen, Texas. Investigators are not yet certain where the bacteria originated.
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Categories : Food News

Press Release – Farmer’s Market at State Capitol

21 07 2008

This sounds cool.  I hope I remember to get up Thursday morning to check this out!

Select Michigan Farmers Market on the State Capitol Lawn Will Take Place Thursday.  Consumers have opportunity to purchase Michigan grown products

EVENT INFORMATION:

WHO:        Michigan Dept. of Agriculture
                 Michigan Food & Farming Systems
                 Michigan Farmers’ Market Association
                 Food Bank Council of Michigan 
                 Michigan farmers and specialty food producers

WHAT:    Buy Fresh-Buy Local Select Michigan Farmers Market on the East
                Lawn of the State Capitol promoting and selling fresh, local Michigan
                produce and specialty food products.  More than 50 farmers and specialty food
                vendors are participating.

WHEN:  10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursday, July 24, 2008, rain or shine.

WHERE: Michigan State Capitol, East Lawn
                  Lansing, Michigan

###

Select Michigan.  It’s good for you, our growers, and our local
economy.


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Categories : Farmer's Market, Food News, Lansing

Frandor Deli

21 07 2008
  • 300 N. Clippert St. #8
  • Lansing, MI 48912
  • (517) 351-9342
  • No Known Website
  • Menu
The beef and cheddar sandwich from the Frandor Deli in the Frandor Shopping Center

The beef and cheddar sandwich from the Frandor Deli in the Frandor Shopping Center

My girlfriend needed to make a run to the Jewelry Doctor in the Frandor Shopping Center so we figured we’d hit up someplace in that area for lunch.  I had heard a lot about Amici’s New York Style Deli, but we couldn’t find it.  I didn’t realize it wasn’t quite in the Shopping Center.  Since we were kind of limited on time, I didn’t feel like driving around the area to look for it.  Instead, I noticed a sign for the Frando Deli.  I figured that would be quick and we could grab sandwiches to go.

Good sign when we walked in.  The place was packed.  We made our way through the small dining room to the counter to order our meals.  All of the sandwiches are already made and wrapped in plastic wrap.  When you order, they take the wrap off and then give you the options to customize the sandwich.  The pizza looked really good, but since we were grabbing something to go, I didn’t think that would have been a very good idea.  Instead, I went with the Beef and Cheddar sandwich.  The counter person asked if I wanted it heated and I passed.  I also passed on the toppings which would be your general deli toppers.  With the sandwich, I got a bag of BBQ chips, a small pickle spear and a medium Pepsi.  The sandwich was pretty good which kind of surprised me.  They must make and wrap the sandwiches every morning.  The bun was fresh and soft and the meat was still a little moist.  There was more shredded cheese than beef on the sandwich, but there was enough meat to make me feel like I didn’t get cheated. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Deli, Lansing, Restaurant, Reviews, Sandwiches

Olde Peninsula Brew Pub

20 07 2008
  • 200 E. Michigan Ave.
  • Kalamazoo, MI 49007
  • (269) 343-2739
  • Website
  • Menu
The sign for Olde Peninsula Brew Pub in downtown Kalamazoo

The sign for Olde Peninsula Brew Pub in downtown Kalamazoo

After a weekend in Chicago, I had to drop my girlfriend off in Kalamazoo for work.  Before we parted ways for the afternoon, we thought it’d be nice to check out what Kalamazoo has to offer in terms of restaurants.  I saw a recommendation for Olde Peninsula on chow.com, so that’s what I went looking for.

Olde Peninsula is located on the corner of Michigan and Portage in what used to be known as the Big Corner.  The first brew pub opened on St. Patrick’s day in 1896.  The current incarnation opened after the 1980 tornado that almost destroyed the building.  We walked into the building and found the hostess station near the door as an extension of the bar.  The building is divided into two dining rooms.  The smoking section also has the bar.  The distillers are visible through a glass wall opposite the bar.  The non-smoking section is divided by a wall that serves as the bar’s back wall.  We were seated in a booth which was on a raised platform on this back wall.

The waitress came over for drinks and we stopped her from leaving to place our order right away.  While there were several options that looked good, we were both in the mood for our usual sandwiches.  I went with the Olde Smokey burger.  The 1/2 lb burger was topped with cheddar cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato and a bbq sauce.  The sandwich is served with a side of beer-battered fries.  The sandwich was big.  I had a hard time getting it in my mouth.  The bacon was nice and crispy and the burger was just slightly pink which lended itself to a good flavor.  I didn’t really notice the bbq sauce until the last couple bites where it had soaked into the bun.  The fries were interesting.  Beer-batterd fries aren’t usually my favorite, but the breading was not overpowering which made these better than normal. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Bar, Brew Pub, Burgers, Downtown, Kalamazoo, Local Flavor, Pub, Restaurant, Reviews

Country Market Restaurant and Buffet- LaSalle, IL

20 07 2008
  • 343 N. 30th Rd
  • LaSalle, IL 61301
  • (815) 220-0622
  • Website
  • Menu
Country Market Restaurant and Buffet located inside the Flying J Truckstop in La Salle, IL

Country Market Restaurant and Buffet located inside the Flying J Truckstop in La Salle, IL

Country Market is located at the Flying J Truckstop just off of I-80 near LaSalle.  I was in the area for a concert at the Cedar Point Sportsmen Club where Sugarland was playing a charity concert.  I was with my girlfriend and my parents.  My mom has some friends over in that area and they suggested we all meet at the truck stop before the show.

The Country Market is a staple at Flying J’s around the country.  I’ve passed many times, but never stopped.  We were shown to a table near the back of the restaurant past the buffet by a hostess.  While we were rearranging the tables, a waitress came to get drink orders.  Waitressing 101 tells you that you shouldn’t have to ask people what they ordered when you bring it back, but even with drinks, our waitress couldn’t remember who ordered what and I had to ask.  There were six of us so it took a while.  By the time she got done, we weren’t quite ready to order so she left and came back when we were.

My girlfriend and I had just eaten lunch at Portillo’s (review HERE) a couple hours earlier, so we weren’t really hungry.  I went with a chicken tender appetizer.  The four definately out of a bag chicken tenders came with a side of BBQ dipping sauce.  Like I said, I wasn’t super hungry, so I didn’t want a whole lot.  This was just about the right amount for how I was feeling.  The chicken and the BBQ were canned, so nothing special, but not bad either. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Big Ten Tour, breakfast, Burgers, Illinois, Restaurant, Reviews, Truck Stop

Portillo’s Hot Dogs – Crestwood, IL

20 07 2008
  • 13130 Cicero Ave.
  • Crestwood, IL 60445
  • (708 ) 385-6400
  • Website
  • Menu
Portillos Hot Dogs in Crestwood. Real Chicago-Style Food!

Portillo's Hot Dogs in Crestwood, IL. Real Chicago-Style Food!

I seem to be spending about every weekend back in Chicago and this past weekend was not exception.  This time, however, I was in town for a concert and not work.  We got tickets to see Sugarland (for the third time!) at the Cedar Point Sportsmen Club in Peru, IL.  Peru is a little over an hour from Chicago, so we decided to stop at my girlfriend’s parents before and after the show.  On our way to meet my parents, whom we were going to the show with, we started talking about food.  We had a pretty packed day trying to fit everything we wanted to do in and we neglected lunch up until that point.  Since she’s more familiar with the area, she started running down places on the way to the meeting point.  After a few suggestions, I finally said, “What about Portillo’s?” 

Let me start by saying.  I LOVE Portillo’s.  This is Chicago style food at it’s best.  When I was in college, I interned downtown at Fox Sports Net Chicago.  The downtown Portillo’s is located a few blocks away and I used to walk there all the time.  Since I started dating my girlfriend, I take any opportunity I can to stop at this location on Cicero. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Chicago, Illinois, Restaurant, Reviews, Sandwiches

Starbucks Closing Three Lansing Area Stores

18 07 2008

Darn.  I have no idea why Starbucks would have to close stores.  Damn you people for not buying your $5 lattes instead of feeding your family.

According to the list on Starbucks website, the stores slated to close are:

Grand River and Saginaw – 3201 E. Grand River Ave. – Lansing
Eastwood Towne Centre – 2941 Preyde Blvd – Lansing Township
Meridian Mall – 1982 Grand River Ave. – Okemos

Now you have no excuse not to take advantage of the local coffee shops scattered throughout the area!


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Categories : Food News

Press Release – Jimmy Johns to Celebrate Grand Opening Downtown

17 07 2008

Got a press release from the Mayor’s office announcing the grand opening of a new Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches on Washington Square in downtown Lansing.  It’ll be the first in Lansing proper, but the fourth in the metro area. 

Jimmy John’s is another chain that got it’s start in Illinois near the University of Illinois in Champaign.  The expansion took place in central Illinois where I lived so I’ve been around them from almost the beginning.  Never been much of fan.  In my opinion, they don’t do anything that Subway doesn’t do better.  Some people love Jimmy John’s, but I’m not one of them.

 

(LANSING) – Representatives of Mayor Virg Bernero’s office and the Lansing Economic Development Corporation will be on hand tomorrow morning at 11 a.m. for the grand opening of the new Jimmy Johns Sandwich Shop located at 134 South Washington Square in downtown Lansing. The grand opening event will include special $1 sandwiches and a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

WHO: Lansing City Officials and Jimmy Johns Sandwich Shop Representatives

WHAT: Jimmy Johns Sandwich Shop Grand Opening

WHERE: 134 S. Washington Square

WHEN: Friday, July 18 from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.


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Categories : Chains, Downtown, Food News, Lansing

FDA Declares Tomatoes Safe Again

17 07 2008

Although they’re saying tomatoes are safe, they still haven’t found a source for the salmonella outbreak.

The FDA hasn’t determined whether tomatoes were a source of the outbreak, but it has determined that tomatoes currently in fields and stores are safe, said Dr. David Acheson, the FDA’s associate commissioner for food protection, according to The Associated Press.

Salmonella Saintpaul — a rare form of the bacteria — has infected more than 1,190 people in 42 states, the District of Columbia and Canada since April, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 370 of those people became ill on or after June 1, the CDC said. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Michigan

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