Straight Jacket and Tie Required

Tratorria Stella in Traverse City is probably best known as being in the basement of a old state mental hospital. The impressive building has been reworked as the Village at Grand Traverse Commons. Once housing the mentally “insane” the 13,000 sq. foot building went through a $2.3M restoration and now houses restaurants, shops, business offices … Read more

Down on Mainstreet

The title (Mainstreet Pub) has nothing to do with Bob Seger, but a restaurant in Allendale Michigan where I have had lunch with my daughter Samantha when I am in town visiting her at school. I did not know that this is part of a restaurant chain. Normally, if you follow our blog you know … Read more

No Catch 22 at Catch 35

I was in Chicago recently for a work conference. We planned a dinner out with guests/clients and wanted something within walking distance from the hotel. After careful scrutiny, we booked reservations at Catch 35. Located on Wacker Drive, near the Navy Pier and near our hotel, it was an easy walk with some great people … Read more

Chardonnay? No Thanks, I’ll Take Merlot!

By a happy accident, some wonderful friends of ours, Ray and Denise, bought me a gift card for my birthday for what they thought was the restaurant we typically frequent, Eddie V’s. Instead they bought a gift card to Eddie Merlot’s in Bloomfield Hills and what a great mistake! I was thrilled to have the … Read more

No Regretti Ordering Spaghetti

It’s that time of week again and the age old question arises, “where do you want to eat?”. I have seen some every funny tweets that say “Marriage is basically asking, what do you want to eat? Over and over again until someone dies”. I think that’s pretty accurate. Tonight was no different. I made … Read more

Teppanyaki? More Like Teppanyummy

The birthday celebration continues with a dinner Benihana in Troy. Benihana has a “chefs table” club that offers $30 off on your birthday. You can only use the coupon Sunday – Thursday and honestly, seems like every person there during the week is using a coupon. The birthday drumming is an ongoing cacophony of celebration. … Read more

Hail Caesar

It seemed appropriate for a pre-birthday dinner to celebrate in a restaurant that was also established 50 years ago, so we went to Mr. Paul’s Chop House in Roseville. Owned by the same family since 1968, it is a Roseville icon that has been serving steaks and seafood as long as I have been alive. … Read more