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


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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.


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Categories : Food News, Michigan, Politics

Grand Traverse Pie Company – East Lansing

19 06 2008
  • 1403 E. Grand River Ave.Grand Traverse Pie Company
  • East Lansing, MI 48823
  • (517) 203-3304
  • Website
  • Menu

I think we screwed ourselves.  Last time my girlfriend went home to Chicago, she brought a couple pies for her family and some friends.  I have to go to Chicago this weekend to shoot a rugby tournament for Sky TV Sports, so my girlfriend took Friday off and we’re making a weekend out of it.  We going to some of her friends’ house for a cook-out and it was suggested she bring home a pie for dessert.  So, before work and after lunch, we hit up the Grand Traverse Pie Company in East Lansing for a couple pies.

Grand Traverse is in a little strip mall between MSU and the Meridian Mall.  If I would have gotten the GPS out and followed it like I should have, it would have been about a ten minute drive. Instead, I tried to do it from memory and went the wrong way.  Once we finally got there, we found parking spot up close and went to get our pies.  When you walk in, your overcome with pie.  To the right is a little freezer which was just calling my name.  You see, in this little freezer, they put their cheesecake and the Oreo Cheesecake was yelling at me to buy it.  My girlfriend looked at me and said “Just get it this time!”  How can I argue with her, so I got my Oreo cheesecake.  I’m sitting here eating it as I type this.  It is freaking delicious.  Very few things in life compare to Eli’s Cheesecake, but this was really good. I like cheesecake, but I love Oreo Cheesecake. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Bakery, Cafe, East Lansing, Reviews

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.


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Bottled Water Return?

17 06 2008

The LSJ ran a story I first told you about a month ago.

The Michigan United Conservation Clubs said Tuesday that within a few years, sales of non-carbonated drinks will exceed soft drink sales.

Michigan’s bottle deposit law, passed by voters in 1976, imposes a dime deposit on soft drink, beer, malt beverage and wine cooler containers.

People return 97 percent of containers for which they pay a deposit. But they recycle only 20 percent of bottled water containers because no deposit is required. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Michigan, Politics

Michigan Tomatoes Safe to Eat

13 06 2008

According to the FDA, Michigan tomatoes are NOT the source of the salmonella outbreak.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has determined that the state’s tomatoes aren’t associated with the recent outbreak of salmonella.

Michigan Department of Agriculture Director Don Koivisto said Friday the state has about 500 open-field tomato farms and 15 hydroponic or greenhouse tomato operations that focus on local distribution.

Don’t know where to get Michigan tomatoes?  Yes you do.  Your local farmer’s market.


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Mid-Michigan Farmers Stuggling After The Storms Too

12 06 2008

Last night, I posted a story from Bloomberg about the recent storms’ effect on this years crops.  Tonight, WLAJ, talked to a farmer in Ingham County about the issue and it’s one that isn’t only affecting Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana.

“We’ll readjust- we usually can handle these sitautions this came so fast,” said Haynes.

Haynes lost five percent of his corn yield which averages out to about a &50,000 loss- a cost which will ultimately be passed on to consumers. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Agriculture, Food News

University of Michigan Grad Wins Top Chef

12 06 2008

I hate reality shows.  Even cooking reality shows, but it is kinda cool a UM grad won this season becoming the first woman to win the reality show.

Stephanie Izard, a 31-year-old, mild-mannered chef from Chicago, beat out 15 other contestants to win the popular reality show designed to test a cook’s mettle.

……………………..

Izard’s winning strategy involved avoiding confrontations with the other cooks. “Top Chef” takes pleasure in airing spats and creating villains. This year was no exception, but Izard remained above the fray.

In a show filled with long knives and short tempers, Izard even came across as affable and humble.

“I try to avoid getting into fights,” she said. “That’s not the way I am in life. I just like to respect others and have others respect me. I wanted go in and keep focused on the food.”

Izard, a University of Michigan graduate, said she plans to open another restaurant in Chicago, one that will emphasize global flavors, seafood and pork.


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Bill To Clamp Down on Illegal Bottle Returns

12 06 2008

From a press release.

LANSING – Legislation to better regulate and control bottle returns was introduced today in the Senate, announced Sens. Ron Jelinek and Cameron S. Brown, both border district lawmakers and lead sponsors of the measures.

 

The five-bill package is designed to prevent bottles and cans not purchased in Michigan from being returned in state. The containers are returned, sometimes by the truckload, by individuals and organized smuggling rings that make large profits off Michigan businesses. These illegal operations cost the state $13 million a year.

  Read the rest of this entry »


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Smoking Bill Probably Delayed Until Winter

11 06 2008

MIRS is reporting today that the smoking ban bill is probably on hold until winter.

That’s because the Senate Majority Leader said today that the next move on the legislation is up to the House.

Senate Leader Mike Bishop (R-Rochester)said he has other fish to fry before he gets to the ban, adding, “I don’t know if we’re going to do much before the end of the year on this.” Read the rest of this entry »


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