Malarky’s

20 09 2008
  • 3210 Deposit Dr NE
  • Grand Rapids, MI 49546
  • (616) 808-2956
  • Website
  • Menu
Malarkys at I-96 and Beltline in Grand Rapids

Malarky's at I-96 and Beltline in Grand Rapids

After an amazing day in Traverse City, we headed back to Grand Rapids for the night.  We couldn’t find a hotel under $100 up north,so we came back as far as Grand Rapids and found a Red Roof Inn for not even half that much.  After getting settled, we both got a little hungry, so we hoped in the car and started heading towards downtown.  First, we wanted to check out Fresh Market, but it was too late and they were closed.  That would have to wait until the next morning.  For some reason, our GPS took us the long way back to the Interstate and we ended up on Beltline Road.  Just before we got to I-96, we hit this bar that looked like a chain, but wasn’t a chain we had ever heard of.  I-96 West was closed at that interchange, so we had to drive around and come back.  On the way back, we just decided to give Malarkey’s a try.  Really, all we wanted was a drink and an appetizer, so why keep driving when there was a place right here.

Once we got inside, Malarky’s again looked like a chain.  The hostess station was right inside the door in it’s own little room.  Through a doorway to the right was the bar.  To the left was the dining room.  We made our way into the bar and found a pub table along the wall, so we sat down.  A waitress noticed us and came over for a drink order.  I got a 14 oz. Bud Light and J got a frozen daquiri.  the waitress came back with a 24 oz. Bud Light instead.  It was only $.50 more so I just took it and didn’t say anything.  She tried to walk away, but we stopped her to put in an order of nachos. Read the rest of this entry »

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Categories : Bar, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Reviews, Sports Bar

Moomer’s Homemade Ice Cream

20 09 2008
  • 7263 N. Long Lake Rd.
  • Traverse City, MI 49648
  • (231) 941-4122
  • Website
  • Menu
Moomers Homemade Ice Cream near Traverse City

Moomer's Homemade Ice Cream near Traverse City

Earlier this summer, I was watching an ABC program when I saw a promo for Good Morning America Weekend.  I usually tune out because who wants to get up early enough on a Saturday to watch GMA?  This time I paid attention.  Not because there was some important news item they were teasing.  What happened is that they were teasing the results for the voting for the Best Ice Cream Shop in the country.  The winner of that contest?  Moomer’s in Traverse City, Michigan.  Since we were planning a trip to Traverse City, we made sure that Moomer’s was on our list of places to go.

We knew while eating dinner at Boone’s Long Lake Inn (review HERE) that we needed to save room for ice cream.  Our plan was to eat dinner, grab some ice cream then head back to Grand Rapids where we were spending the night.  We both ate quite a bit at dinner, but we were not going to leave the area without a stop at the best ice cream shop in America.

Moomer’s sits on Long Lake Rd outside of Traverse City.  It’s a stand alone shop with a log cabin feel.  Even late in September at 7:00 at night, quite a few people were crowded into the shop enjoying some ice cream.  Since we were pretty full, we both went with a small serving which is one scoop in a cup. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Ice Cream, Local Flavor, Michigan, Reviews, Traverse City

Boone’s Long Lake Inn

20 09 2008
  • 7208 Secor Rd.
  • Traverse City, MI 49648
  • (231) 946-3991
  • Website
  • Menu
Boones Long Lake Inn outside Traverse City

Boone's Long Lake Inn outside Traverse City

Whenever we go on a trip, I like to find the place where the locals go for a meal.  You can always find good spots in the tourists hubs as well, but it’s those out of the way places that a tourist might have a hard time finding where the real gems are.  Boone’s Long Lake Inn came from a recommendation from Ang who said she and her fiance will find a reason to drive to Traverse City just so they can go to Boone’s.  That was a good enough recommendation for me, so we headed out of town to find Boone’s.

Boone’s is located a few miles outside of town on Secor Rd.  I damn near missed the turn for the driveway.  The sign came up on me pretty fast, but since there was no one behind me, I slowed down in a hurry to make the turn.  The restaurant sits at the end of a short drive.  When we got up the hill, we came into a huge parking lot that was pretty empty.  We were pretty early for dinner, so it was questionable whether we would even be able to get a meal here.  There’s a sign posted on the outside of the restaurant with the hours and they just opened for dinner about ten minutes prior to our arrival.

When we got inside, we were met by a host and shown to a table.  The dinning room is massive.  It’s divided into three separate, gigantic spaces.  In addition to the dining rooms, there’s a bar and banquet rooms.  Boone’s is huge.  Our waitress came over for drinks and told us about the specials.  Steaks had been recommended, but I don’t normally eat steak at restaurants.  Too expensiveand I’m a little picky with how it’s cooked.  I like it medium rare and that seems to be open to interpretation for some reason.  There was plenty on the menu that looked good.  I ended up ordering the single bacon wrapped pork loin.  The pork chop came with choice of potato and a salad.  I chose french fries for the potato and got a side salad with Italian dressing.  The most interesting thing about the salad were the croutons.  They were obviously homemade.  They were crispy on the outside, but soft and chewy on the inside.  Before the meal, the server brought out a loaf of warm, homemade bread.  I would assume the croutons are made from that left over bread.  Side salads are usually uninteresting and bland, but the croutons made this salad just the opposite. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Local Flavor, Michigan, Reviews, Traverse City

Gallagher’s Farm Market & Bakery

20 09 2008
  • 7237 E. Traverse Hwy
  • Traverse City, MI 49684
  • (231) 947-1689
  • Website
Gallaghers Farm Market near Traverse City

Gallagher's Farm Market near Traverse City

When we moved to Michigan, J’s mom was insistent that when we started seeing Honey crisp apples on the shelves we needed to buy them.  We saw some the other day at the Select Michigan Farmer’s Market, but didn’t buy because we were going to be gone for the weekend.  I figured Traverse City would hae a plethora of farm markets and the one I ended up finding was Gallagher’s.

Gallagher’s is a little drive from downtown Traverse City.  It’s out in the country a few miles down Traverse Highway.  With our GPS, we had no trouble finding the place.  Gallagher’s is what you expect from a farm market.  It’s small, but has a lot to offer.  When we pulled in, there were quite a few cars in the small parking lot.  I squeezed into a spot then got out and started looking around.  There was was a whole table of different apples including the coveted honey crisps.  J picked up 1/2 peck and we continued to browse.  Being so far from home, it was hard not to buy anything, but again, I didn’t have any recipes in mind and I don’t like to buy then try to figure out what to do with it.  I’d rather work the other way which can be frustrating when I can’t find something, but it’s how I roll.  Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Michigan

Kilwin’s Chocolate Shoppe

20 09 2008
  • 129 E. Front St
  • Traverse City, MI 49684
  • (231) 946-2403
  • Website
Kilwins Chocolate Shoppe in downtown Traverse City

Kilwin's Chocolate Shoppe in downtown Traverse City

Fudge is a weakness of mine.  I have a hard time walking by a candy shop where I can see them making it in the window.  After we left The Cherry Shop (review HERE), we continued walking down Front Street.  It wasn’t long before we walked by two guys in the window making candy.  They weren’t making fudge, but they were making caramel apples.  I grabbed J and pushed her towards the door.  When we got inside, my suspicions were confirmed.  They had the most delicious looking fudge in a glass case near the door.

I didn’t know where to start.  I do know I love peanut butter.  I also know I love fudge.  If you put the two together, it should make an incredible confection.  They had a special going where if you bought two pieces of fudge, you got one free.  J wanted a piece of the cherry fudge and since we were going to get a free one, I got a wedge of the vanilla.  Each wedge was a half a pound.  There were no prices posted so I was a little shocked when it rang up at $17, but it was a lot of fudge.  Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Candy, Chocolate, Michigan, Reviews, Specialty Shop, Traverse City

The Cherry Stop

20 09 2008
  • 211 E. Front St.
  • Traverse City, MI 49684
  • 800-286-7209
  • Website
The Cherry Stop in downtown Traverse City

The Cherry Stop in downtown Traverse City

Well, I guess would couldn’t actually go to Traverse City without stopping in one Cherry related tourist trap.  When we were waiting for our meals at The Cooks House (review HERE), I grabbed a Traverse City dining magazine that was sitting on the window ledge.  In it, they had ads and articles for a number of businesses in the area.  J noticed one called The Cherry Store which was just a few blocks from where we were.  We were going to walk around downtown anyway, so we just kept an eye out for this store.

We found the Cherry Store on Front St right in the heart of the downtown business district.  The store is exactly what you think it is.  It’s cherries from floor to ceiling.  Everything on the shelves had cherries in it somehow.  Dried cherries, chocolate covered cherries, cherry salsa, cherry BBQ sauce, cherry Dijon mustard.  If they could figure out a way to put a cherry it in, it was there.  Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Candy, Michigan, Specialty Shop, Traverse City