The food scene in Grand Rapids has come a long way. Perhaps nowhere is that growth as evident as the burgeoning Thai scene in town. If you wanted to eat something Asian in GR before the 2000s, that meant Panda Express or ordering the Asian salad at Applebee’s. Those dark days are behind us! Now … Read more
There’s a magic that happens when meat is cooked at low temperatures for hours and kissed with smoke the whole time. Though I have yet to make the pilgrimage to the holy BBQ lands of Texas, I’ve been to BBQ hotbeds like St. Louis, the Carolinas, and… Maine? (Yes, Salvage BBQ was some of the … Read more
It’s happened. Michigan’s notoriously fickle weather has frowned upon you, and you’ve been trapped indoors for the last several days. As you descend the staircase into your living room (after stepping on a lego – ow!), you survey the chaos before you. Dirty dishes are stacked precariously in the sink, half-clothed children are barreling through … Read more
Bloody Marys are of those drinks that have no business being so delicious. It’s like something a hungover frat guy threw together because his pantry was depleted. Tomato juice, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, celery, some olives, and vodka? Recite this list of ingredients to a child, each ingredient more offensive than the last. Watch their … Read more
Friday night in our house means two things: pizza and a movie. And a glass of white wine for my wife and a whiskey neat for me. Ok, that’s four things. I’m a writer, not a mathematician. Grand Rapids has hundreds of pizza joints, and I have heroically eaten thousands of slices of pizza to … Read more
I would be the best trampoline park DJ in the world. “I believe I can fly” by R. Kelly? Oh yeah, it’s on my playlist. “Jump” by Kriss Kross? You know it (backward clothing optional). “Jump” by Van Halen, “Levitating” by Dua Lipa, “Fly” by Sugar Ray, and “Jumpin’ Jumpin’” by Destiny’s Child? Check, check, … Read more
If I were to create my personal Mt. Rushmore of my favorite cuisines, Italian food would be on there. Right next to Abraham Lincoln. There’s just something about how Italian food combines meat, carbs, and cheese that’s so… bella! You’ve come to the right place. I am a Grand Rapids native and have been eating … Read more
There was a time in my life when I didn’t like sushi. I know. Sacrilege. Eventually, I discovered it wasn’t that I didn’t like sushi. I just didn’t like bad sushi. You know, the stuff at the supermarket that’s been sitting out for who knows how long. The uninspired roll from the strip mall sushi … Read more