Higher Prices to Ruin Memorial Day…

22 05 2008

…and I don’t mean gas prices.  I saw the following story on ABC 3 and honestly, it’s just depressing.

This weekend thousands of you will fire up the barbeque to kick-off the summer grilling season, but if that’s the plan, you better bring the bank.

From ketchup to paper plates food inflation is the highest in almost two decades.  

The average price of a cook out will cost American’s six percent more than last year. 

This is just the beginning. Analysts say next year, it’ll be even more expensive  just to stay home and make burgers.

Man, they can even ruin grilling.  I already got my burgers and buns…we don’t need no paper plates or ketchup….I’m kidding.  I’m not that cheap, but really, that is depressing to think about it.  You can’t leave because it’s too expensive and you can’t stay home because it’s too expensive.  We might as well not have holidays.


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Categories : Food News, Grilling

Clara’s Lansing Station – Brunch

11 05 2008
  • 637 E. Michigan AveClara's
  • Lansing, MI 48912
  • (517) 372-7120
  • Website
  • Menu

I originally reviewed Clara’s Lansing Station on April 14 (review HERE) after my girlfriend I and stopped in for dinner on a Sunday night.  We liked the place so much, we decided to get Mother’s Day Brunch reservations since her parents were going to be in town.  The atmosphere is what sold us on the return the visit.  The old train station is just beautifully restored that she wanted to show her parents.

Reservations were a good thing.  The place was packed and there were people waiting. We got there about 10 minutes before our reservation, but were shown to a table right away.  This time, we were up in the balcony.  The buffet is on the main floor and takes up space where there are tables the rest of the time.  The trip up the stairs was probably good for us to burn a few calories before hitting the line. 

Right by the door, the buffet started with an omelet station and a carving station.  I passed on both, but my girlfriends mom stopped and got an omelet that was loaded with two kinds of cheese.  Next came the buffet line.  It started with breakfast favorites like biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs, bacon, and sausage then transitioned into lunch food like cheesy potatos (which my girlfriend LOVED), ham steaks, and chicken wings.   I, of course, loaded my plate with meats.  The bacon was crispy, but pretty generic.  The ham was good and the chicken wings were hot.  Nothing would have been fabulous had I ordered it off a menu, but for a brunch buffet, this stuff was good.

There was also a salad bar to the back and a huge spread of desserts.  I just grabbed a piece of chocolate chip cheesecake with an oreo crust.  My girlfriend got a huge sampler platter to share with her mom and her stepdad came back with his own assortment of goodies.  The desserts were all top notch.

The brunch price was around $17 per person, so it did end up being pretty expensive, but it’s one of the better brunches.  I’ve definately paid more and gotten less.  Clara’s was really packed which is always a good sign when it comes brunch.  I’ve heard it was the best in town and I have no reason to doubt that.  Clara’s was the first repeat visit for us since moving to Lansing and we’ve been really happy with both meals.


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Categories : Brunch, Lansing, Local Flavor, Michigan, Restaurant, Reviews

More People Shopping at Markets

6 05 2008

I’ve been tough on the Lansing City Market recently on this blog, but WLNS ran a story over the weekend on how more people are shopping at the market due to high grocery prices.

Nancy Tucker, Lansing City Market Shopper: “Well gosh, i just bought some potatoes and a cucumber and he gave me the price and I thought he didn’t add the cucumber in because it was less than I was expecting.”

Cheaper, because she’s used to paying grocery store prices.

And with those prices on the rise, vendors here expect more people will be turning to local markets for their summer produce.  

Lee Purdy, Lansing City Market Vendor: “Everytime there’s a transaction takes place somebody has to make some money. So if I sell it myself and I produce it myself I can sell it at a lower price.”

My girlfriend and I have been doing about 95% of our shopping at Horrock’s.  The first time we went in that store, we were shocked by the low prices.  I’ve always made fun of the “hippies” that shop at farmer’s markets, but I’m quickly becoming one of those.  The food is just so much fresher and it’s hard to argue with the prices.  Before moving here, we did about 95% of our shopping at Wal-Mart because it was right across the street.  Now, the only reason we go to Wal-Mart is because they’re the only one that carries the flavor of Propel that I like….and we’ve only been there twice in six weeks.


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Categories : Food News, Lansing, Michigan

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