Sir Pizza : Grand Cafe

31 01 2009
  • 210 E. Grand River Avenue
  • Lansing, MI 48906
  • (517) 484-9197
  • Website
  • Menu
Sir Pizzas Grand Cafe in Lansings Old Town

Sir Pizza's Grand Cafe in Lansing's Old Town

After a late afternoon lunch, neither J or I were really hungry around “dinner time.”  We sat on the couch watching TV until a little after eight.  It was then, we decided we needed to find something for dinner.  I wasn’t really in the mood for another burger and the only thing I had a taste for was pizza.  I was hesitant to suggest that because I seem to always go to pizza if I don’t want bar food.  To my surprise, when I did suggest it, J said she was thinking the same thing.

Our first choice was the newly opened Izzo’s Pizzeria in REO Town.  Unfortunately, we were too late.  When we drove by, it was open.  By the time we parked and walked back to the pizzeria, it was closed, so I went with Plan B. 

The Sir Pizza Grand Cafe is in Lansing Old Town on Grand River Avenue overlooking the Grand River.  When it came to ordering pizza, we always seemed to avoid the Lansing chain.  The other Sir Pizza stores never really looked all that inviting.  The one we always drive by is the Cedar Street/Mt. Hope location and that one looks like it’s abandoned.  The front is all boarded up and you can’t tell that there’s anything going on inside.  So, and I know this is bad, that’s how my perception of Sir Pizza was built, but I had heard good things about the Grand Cafe.  Since we were still in the mood for pizza and Old Town wasn’t really all that far, that’s where we headed. Read the rest of this entry »

Advertisement

Comments : 5 Comments »
Tags: , , , , , ,
Categories : Lansing, Michigan, Old Town, Pizza, Restaurant, Reviews

Gilbert & Blake’s

31 01 2009
  • 3554 Okemos Road
  • Okemos, MI 48864
  • (517) 349-1300
  • Website
  • Menu
Gilbert & Blakes on Okemos Road in Okemos

Gilbert & Blake's on Okemos Road in Okemos

I’ve always been afraid of Gilbert and Blake’s.  I had only read one review of the place and it wasn’t exactly glowing, but the thing that really scared me off was the “seafood” part of the branding.  We don’t eat seafood.  I know, they have steaks, but I don’t order steaks at a restaurant.  They’re never as good as I make at home and really expensive.  J and I are sandwich people.  I love a good burger and there were no burgers on Gilbert and Blake’s dinner menu, so I never considered it an option for us.  For some odd reason, I was looking at restaurants last night.  I came back to Gilbert and Blake’s and decided to look at the menu again.  Again, the dinner menu didn’t do much for me.  It’s a little too fancy for a regular night out, but the lunch menu actually looked really good.  J and I were discussing lunch options and I figured…let’s give it a try.  There were enough options that both of us should be happy.

Gilbert & Blake’s is on Okemos Road not far from I-96 in Okemos.  Like I figured, it’s not your average night out kind of place.  I would put it in the fine dining category for this area.  There are couple different dining rooms.  When you walk in, you’re met by a hostess.  We were shown to a table in what looks to be their main dining room just off of the bar.  Gilbert & Blake’s is a white tablecloth, black napkin kind of place.  The decor is subdued and dark.  Most of the light is natural lighting coming in from large windows that run along one wall of the dining room.  What little lighting they have are track spot lights. Read the rest of this entry »


Comments : 4 Comments »
Tags: , , , , ,
Categories : Burgers, Michigan, Okemos, Restaurant, Reviews, Sandwiches

New Places To Eat!

31 01 2009
The State Side Deli on Okemos Road

The State Side Deli on Okemos Road

We went out to lunch and planned on doing some shopping in Okemos this afternoon.  Our restaurant of choice was Gilbert and Blake’s.  When we pulled into the parking, we noticed a new deli across the street with a “Grand Opening” banner hanging out front.  It’s called State Side Deli.  They’re on Okemos Road in the strip mall directly across from Gilbert and Blake’s.

After lunch, we headed cross town to Horrocks.  I almost suggested stopping at Ice Cream Joes, so I was looking for it.  Ultimately, we didn’t, but as we drove by, I noticed a new name on the side.  It’s now called The Uddery Creamery.  We didn’t stop, so I don’t know if anything’s changed, but we really liked Ice Cream Joe’s when we stopped in back in the spring.


Comments : 5 Comments »
Tags: , , , , ,
Categories : Deli, Ice Cream, Lansing, Okemos

Facebook Correction

31 01 2009

Thanks to everyone that joined the Facebook group this week, but I realized I made a mistake.  I meant to create a fan page…not a group.  The fan pages have better options for networking and promoting.  So, I know it’s a pain, but could everyone who joined the group follow the link below and “become a fan”?  And if you haven’t joined yet, click the link and sign up.  I’m going to delete the group in a couple days…

Mid-Michigan Dining Facebook Fan Page


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: ,
Categories : Michigan

Go Green Menus

30 01 2009

So, here it is.  Friday night a little after eleven and I’m starving.  It never fails.  I think it goes back to my drinking days when I would order pizza or wings or something really unhealthy after a few beers.  I’m not gonna go anywhere, but I start looking around Google to see what’s open and I come across this really cool website.

It’s called Go Green Menus.  It was acquired by three MSU juniors last August.  The website has a number of East Lansing restaurnts listed.  The cool thing is you can search by dine in or carry out.  From there, you select the type of cuisine you want.  Then, a list of restaurants pop up along the side bar and it actually shows you what is open and what is closed.  Once you find the restaurant you want, you can view a menu and it some cases even order online.

What a great idea!  The first one of these was built at Penn State University in 2002 and they’ve expanded the concept to other cities. 

Anyway, check out the website at http://www.gogreenmenus.com


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: , , , ,
Categories : East Lansing, Food News, Michigan

Press Release – Turkey Hill Dairy Recall

30 01 2009

From a Press Release….

TURKEY HILL DAIRY ANNOUNCES VOLUNTARY RECALL OF SELECT ICE CREAM FLAVORS
FOLLOWING EXPANDED FDA INVESTIGATION OF PEANUT CORPORATION OF AMERICA

LANCASTER COUNTY, PA (January 30, 2009) – Turkey Hill Dairy of Lancaster
County, PA, is voluntarily recalling six select ice cream and frozen yogurt
items because the products contain ingredients that have been voluntarily
recalled by our suppliers.

Turkey Hill’s recalled products contain peanut pieces sold by Peanut
Corporation of America (PCA), the current focus of an ongoing Salmonella
investigation by the United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA). On
January 28, the FDA expanded its investigation to include all peanuts
processed by the PCA at its plant in Blakely, GA, since January 1, 2007,
including dry and oil-roasted peanuts, granulated peanuts and peanut meal,
in addition to peanut butter and peanut paste, which were the initial focus
of the investigation.

Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal
infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with
weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often
experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and
abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result
in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe
illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms),
endocarditis and arthritis. Read the rest of this entry »


Comments : 1 Comment »
Tags: , , , , ,
Categories : Food News, Press Releases

One Second Super Bowl Commercials

30 01 2009

Not being a huge pro football fan, most years, I could care less about the Super Bowl, but like most people, I can’t help but watch.  I think it’s pretty sad that advertisers spend so much money on ads, but it’s the only time of the year people watch TV for the commercials.

When I saw this story on Miller’s strategy for the big game, I had to chuckle a little bit.

With their brand recognition in solid standing, they’re now betting on a 1-second commercial to carry the brand through the Super Bowl. Thirty second commercials run a cool $3 million during the Super Bowl, and as Middlebrooks, the voracious delivery man declares “I don’t care how big the game is, who’s got $3 million?”

Nice.  So not only does Miller get commercial time, they have every news media and blogger giving them free advertisement for this quirky plan.  I think it’s hilarious.  I saw some of the commercials on CNN the other day and they’re really funny…even if they’re only a second long.

Even funnier, as I’m writing this, I’m watching reruns on Yes Dear on TBS…I just saw a 30 second Miller High LIfe spot advertising the 1 second spots during the Super Bowl. 


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: , , ,
Categories : Food News

Starbucks Coffee – Downtown East Lansing

29 01 2009
  • 401 E. Grand River Avenue
  • East Lansing, MI 48823
  • (517) 332-0398
  • Website
  • Menu
Starbucks Coffee on Grand River Avenue in downtown East Lansing

Starbucks Coffee on Grand River Avenue in downtown East Lansing

When we were hanging out in Chicago Thanksgiving weekend, we tried four or five times to stop in a Starbucks so J could try their Salted Caramel Signature Hot Chocolate.  None of the Starbucks we passed had any tables and the lines were out the door, so we ended up settling on a Dunkin Donuts and just got some regular hot chocolate.  It didn’t hurt my feelings.  I loathe Starbucks and everything it stands for.  Back in Peoria, I had a co-worker who stopped every morning and if we happened to be in a car together, I knew she was going to wine until I stopped so she could get an overpriced coffee.

After dinner at Brother’s Grill, I was standing outside taking a picture for the blog.  When I turned around, J was gone.  I thought maybe she started walking back towards the car.  Fortunately for me, she wears a bright colored coat.  I happened to catch a glimpse of that coat out of the corner of my eye in line at the Starbucks that sits right next door. Read the rest of this entry »


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: , , , , , ,
Categories : Chains, Coffee, Downtown, East Lansing, Reviews

Brother’s Grill

29 01 2009
  • 403 E. Grand River Avenue
  • East Lansing, MI 48823
  • (517) 333-6939
  • Website
  • Menu
Brothers Grill in downtown East Lansing

Brother's Grill in downtown East Lansing

A few weeks ago I was watching the 11:00 news and saw a story about the Michigan Business Tax.  The reporter took the angle of what a new business has to deal with when starting up in Michigan.  The business they chose to talk to was Brother’s Grill in East Lansing.  Before that story, I had never heard of Brother’s Grill….and with good reason, they had just opened their doors that week.

The later it gets in the week, the less I feel like cooking dinner.  Before J left for work, I asked what she wanted and she didn’t really come up with anything.  Before walking out the door, she asked if I just wanted to pick her up and we could go out to eat.  I didn’t argue.  I suggested Brother’s Grill in East Lansing.  The menu looked good and there’s not much info on the place on the web yet.  She liked the idea so that’s what we did.

Brother’s Grill is on Grand River Avenue in East Lansing in the old Big Ten Burrito location.  It’s sandwiched between Starbucks and SBS.  I knew it was on Grand River, but I didn’t know where.  As we drove along the stretch of road in the downtown area of East Lansing, I asked J to keep an eye out for it.  Neither one of us saw it, so I turned around and headed back the way we came.  I finally noticed it as we came up to the stoplight at Charles Street.  They don’t have a lighted a sign.  Just a painted window and a small wooden sign above the door.  Read the rest of this entry »


Comments : 2 Comments »
Tags: , , , , , ,
Categories : Burgers, Downtown, East Lansing, Michigan, Restaurant, Reviews, Sandwiches

Congres To Hold Hearings on Peanut Recall

29 01 2009

Not much of a surprise.

California Democrat Henry Waxman says he wants to focus on the Georgia peanut processing plant at the center of the investigation, which has led to a massive recall. More than 500 people have gotten sick in the outbreak, and at least eight may have died because of salmonella infections.

Among those testifying will be Stewart Parnell, president of Peanut Corp. of America, as well representatives of two labs the company used for testing. Peanut Corp. shipped products that initially tested positive for salmonella, after follow-up tests found no traces. 


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: , , , ,
Categories : Food News

« Previous Entries