Weekend Plans

19 06 2008

Posting is going to be light again this weekend.  I’m heading to Chicago Friday to shoot the Barclay’s Churchill Cup rugby at Toyota Park in Bridgeview on Saturday.  My girlfriend took the day off so we can make a long weekend out of it and get to spend some time with our parents.

We’re going to be hitting up a few places in Chicago we’ve been wanting to go.  On the way home, we’re planning on hitting the White Palace Grill on Chicago’s south side.  They were featured on Diner’s Drive-In’s and Dives a few months ago.  We’re also planning on hitting one of my favorite dive bars in a small unicorporated part of Iroquois County called L’Erbale.  They stop serving at nine and it’s an hour drive from Chicago, so who knows.  I know this has nothing to do with Mid-Michigan, but I’m going to lump them in the Big Ten Tour section of the blog because both of these places (and anywhere else we go) could be hit up on the way to Champaign (Univeristy of Illinois) or Evanston (Northwestern).  Plus, I just really like reviewing places 🙂

Don’t expect to see much activity here until Sunday night (doubtful) or Monday afternoon (more likely).  In the mean time, don’t forget to check out the REVIEW section of the site to see where I’ve been in Mid-Michigan already


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

House May Give on Smoking Ban

19 06 2008

MIRS News is reporting that Houe Majority Floor Leader Steve Tobocman (D-Detroit) may call the total ban (HB 4163) that the Senate passed for a vote if the Senate doesn’t act on the bill the House sent back to them. 

Tobocman said he will wait to “see if the Senate goes along with the exemptions,” but if it does not, House Democrats are prepared to adopt the Sen. Ray Basham (D-Taylor) bill that imposes an across-the-board smoking ban on every public place.

There is no timeframe given.  It sounds like they’re hoping the threat of passing the total ban will get the Senate to move on the ban with exemptions.  Sounds to me like he’s calling the Senate’s bluff.


Comments : 7 Comments »
Tags: , , ,
Categories : Food News, Michigan, Politics

E. Coli Outbreak in Michigan

18 06 2008

Another food bourne illness precaution.

State health officials suspect contaminated ground beef is the source of a spike in infections by E. coli bacteria.

They’re urging people to thoroughly cook their hamburgers and, if possible, use a digital thermometer to make sure they’ve been heated to at least 160 degrees.

The Michigan Department of Community Health says it’s received 29 reports of E. coli infection so far this month. That compares with just 10 cases for the entire month of June over the past four years.

The story goes on to say that early lab reports suggest a common source, but doesn’t identify it.  When I found what it is, I’ll update this post.

Cook your beef.  Especially if you buy ground beef from a supermarket.  The stuff I get from a butcher I’ll go more medium on, but ground beef from the grocery store needs to be well done.


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

Cold Stone on the Decline

18 06 2008

I wasn’t too surprised when I saw this artcile on MSN tonight.

Earlier in this decade, Cold Stone Creamery was one of the hottest franchises around. The super-premium ice-cream stores attracted scores of franchisees hungry for a piece of the “Ultimate Ice Cream Experience.”

Now many franchisees are selling their stores, overwhelmed by soaring bills and shrinking profits. Some have lost their homes, broken their retirement nest eggs or filed for bankruptcy. Read the rest of this entry »


Comments : 1 Comment »
Tags: , , ,
Categories : Food News, Ice Cream

Think Products are Shrinking at the Supermarket?

17 06 2008

If you think you’re seeing smaller boxes in the supermarket, you right.  I saw an story on WLAJ tonight at 6 that said Kellogg is shrinking some of their boxes of cereal.  I did a quick google search and came to this USA Today article.  It’s not just cereal.  It’s pretty much everything.

Many major ice cream makers, hit by higher dairy costs, have shrunk their standard containers to 1.5 quarts from 1.75 quarts, about 1 cup less. The industry downsized from the traditional half-gallon (2 quarts) five years ago. In both cases, only the package shrank, not the price.

“Downsizing is nothing but a sneaky price increase,” says Edgar Dworsky, former Massachusetts assistant attorney general in the Consumer Protection Division, now editor of Mouseprint.org, a consumer website. “I’m waiting to open a carton of eggs and see only 11.”

Manufacturer’s say they are not trying to be sneaky.

We did not in any way try to hide this,” insists Tim Kahn, CEO of Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, which also makes — and has shrunk — Edy’s. “The package-size change couldn’t be any more visible.” Read the rest of this entry »


Comments : 2 Comments »
Tags: , , ,
Categories : Food News

Taco Bell, Pizza Hut Restocking Tomatoes

17 06 2008

Not that I care too much….but come to think of it, how do you make pizza without tomatoes?

Tomatoes are coming back on the menus at Yum Brands’ restaurants, including Taco Bell.

The Louisville-based fast-food company says it’s starting to resupply its restaurants with tomatoes from areas that have been cleared of salmonella risk by federal health officials.

Yum is the parent company of Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut, A&W and Long John Silver’s restaurants.


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

Airman Can’t Get Enough White Castle

17 06 2008

If I were in the military, there are a lot of things that I would ask for an extended leave for.  This isn’t one of them

Even the Air Force knows a good burger is hard to find.

Aaron Kay’s superior officer agreed to extend the serviceman’s leave by one week so he could be on hand for the opening of a new White Castle restaurant in Livingston County.

The Livingston County Daily Press & Argus of Howell reports Kay was scheduled to return Monday to his base in Okinawa, Japan, and learned about Tuesday’s planned opening in Genoa Township. Read the rest of this entry »


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

How Food Prices Affect Your Diet

16 06 2008

I’m sure you’ve gone to the grocery store and wondered how the hell you can eat healthy but not break the bank. That’s something I think about almost every time. When I first moved out on my own, my diet consisted of Mac ‘N Cheese (the blue box kind), frozen pizza, Hot Pockets, deep fried chicken strips, and grilled cheese. Needless to say, I put on a few pounds I’ve never really lost.

I first noticed the weight gain when my brother got me a free along ride at the Richard Petty Driving Experience at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, IL.  My brother snapped a picture of me in a driving suit.  I couldn’t believe that was me.  By this point, I had already started learning to cook, but it was still the wrong thing.  I was recording Molto Mario and Everyday Italian pretty much everyday.  I thought I was doing good.  Pasta’s good for you, right?

After that weekend, I figured I better try to do more.  I cut Pepsi consumption in half.  That’s like trying to quit smoking for me.  I was good until recently only drinking two cans a day.  I know that sounds like a lot, but that’s down from six or more.  I started watching more Food Network shows.  I became a big fan of Bobby Flay and Racheal Ray.  Every Saturday and Sunday I check the schedule to see what every show is preparing those mornings and record something if it sounds good.  Between that and my girlfriend moving in, I’ve started eating a little bit better.  Not as good as I’d like to, but there are some vices I just can’t give up. Read the rest of this entry »


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

Press Release – Lansing School District

16 06 2008

 The following is a press release from Lansing School District regarding the summer food service program for children….

The Lansing School District, in conjunction with other community organizations, announces the sponsorship of the Summer Food Service Program for Children. Free meals will be made available to children 18 years of age and under or persons over 18 who are determined by a state or local public educational agency to be mentally or physically handicapped. The meals will be provided without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, or disability. Meals will be provided at the sites listed below. Read the rest of this entry »


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

BWL Chili Cook-Off

13 06 2008

I made it to MIS this morning for some interviews and got home before one o’clock, so I was abBWL Chili Cook-Offle to get a quick nap in and not be too worn out to make it downtown for the BWL Chili Cook-Off.  I picked my girlfriend up from work and we headed to the Lansing Center for her dinner break.  I was exepcting them to move it inside because of the rain, but by the time we got to Michigan and Cedar, it was pretty obvious things were still outside.  We found on-street parking then got in line to get our wristbands and get inside.

Our plan of attack was simple.  Start at the end and work our way down booth-by-booth.  That worked for about five minutes.  You could tell which ones were really good because of the lines.  We skipped over a few thinking we’d come back later. 

Let me back track a little bit here and say this is a great event.  I was complaining on the way downtown that Lansing doesn’t get a lot of concerts like our old hometown gets.  She was quick to point out that what Lansing lacks in concerts they make up for in community events.  A few weeks ago, we took advantage of the Be a Tourist In Your Own Town and tonight’s Chili Cook-Off was better than we could have imagined.  Read the rest of this entry »


Comments : 7 Comments »
Tags: , , , ,
Categories : Cook offs, Food News

« Previous Entries Next Entries »