The Unhealthiest Menu on the Planet

In our never ending search for intriguing foods, a jackpot was hit with what has to be the mother of all unhealthy menus. Seriously, there is a deep-fried cheeseburger on the menu.

Heart stopping, artery clogging foods are favorites all over the world and the American Midwest is certainly no exception. In Michigan, it’s Pasties in the U.P., cherry pies in Traverse City and the great Coney Island dogs in Flint. But for real gut busting nothing beats… CONTINUE READING >>

In our never ending search for intriguing foods, a jackpot was hit with what has to be the mother of all unhealthy menus. Seriously, there is a deep-fried cheeseburger on the menu.

Heart stopping, artery clogging foods are favorites all over the world and the American Midwest is certainly no exception. In Michigan, it’s Pasties in the U.P., cherry pies in Traverse City and the great Coney Island dogs in Flint. But for real gut busting nothing beats… CONTINUE READING >>

The Maple Leaf Spangled Banner

The rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air…. YEAH CANADA! What? Turns out Independence Day is not the only patriotic fireworks-laden midsummer festival in North America. Canada Day is on the 1st of July and celebrates Canada’s “birthday” with familiar cookouts, picnics, parades, fireworks and a communal cake. Cake? Of course, it’s a birthday party! We found ourselves a beauty of a celebration by the banks of the River Thames in London… Ontario that is.

We found ourselves a beauty of a celebration by the banks of the River Thames in London… Ontario… CONTINUE READING >>

The rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air…. YEAH CANADA! What? Turns out Independence Day is not the only patriotic fireworks-laden midsummer festival in North America. Canada Day is on the 1st of July and celebrates Canada’s “birthday” with familiar cookouts, picnics, parades, fireworks and a communal cake. Cake? Of course, it’s a birthday party! We found ourselves a beauty of a celebration by the banks of the River Thames in London… Ontario that is.

We found ourselves a beauty of a celebration by the banks of the River Thames in London… Ontario… CONTINUE READING >>

Lamb on the Lam

“All aboard for Hayward, Hurley and Hell!” the train conductors would yell. Northern Wisconsin had become a playground for gangsters, politicians and the “beautiful people” of Chicago during Prohibition and the Great Depression.

Al Capone had a hideout on a private lake near Hayward where he had bootleg whiskey flown in from Canada on seaplanes. The town of Hurley boasted… CONTINUE READING >>

“All aboard for Hayward, Hurley and Hell!” the train conductors would yell. Northern Wisconsin had become a playground for gangsters, politicians and the “beautiful people” of Chicago during Prohibition and the Great Depression.

Al Capone had a hideout on a private lake near Hayward where he had bootleg whiskey flown in from Canada on seaplanes. The town of Hurley boasted… CONTINUE READING >>

Kalamazoo Appy Crawl

As the tee shirts say, “Yes, There Really IS a Kalamazoo!” It’s the kind of name that makes you want to stop and see what’s going on. Kalamazoo is an Algonquian Indian word meaning “boiling pot” and the city has gained fame through celery, taxi cab production, Gibson guitars, the Upjohn “friable pill” and the Kalamazoo stove. With all of this going for it, we had to drop by and try an appy crawl in this tidy little Michigan college town, proving that appy crawls can be done in anyone’s hometown.

All roads led downtown, which boasts the first pedestrian mall in the United States. Since 1959 it has hosted fun little… CONTINUE READING >>

As the tee shirts say, “Yes, There Really IS a Kalamazoo!” It’s the kind of name that makes you want to stop and see what’s going on. Kalamazoo is an Algonquian Indian word meaning “boiling pot” and the city has gained fame through celery, taxi cab production, Gibson guitars, the Upjohn “friable pill” and the Kalamazoo stove. With all of this going for it, we had to drop by and try an appy crawl in this tidy little Michigan college town, proving that appy crawls can be done in anyone’s hometown.

All roads led downtown, which boasts the first pedestrian mall in the United States. Since 1959 it has hosted fun little… CONTINUE READING >>

Traveling as a “Meat Avoider”

Like all the girls of my generation, I can recite the basic principals of virtually any eating lifestyle — from the Cabbage Soup Diet to Adkins and all the crazy messed-up fads in between. And, chances are, I’ve tried it (fifteen years ago I dropped three dress sizes eating cream cheese and lunchmeat stuffed celery rolled in crushed pork rinds). David, though generally supportive of my dieting adventures, rarely fails to find the humor in it. He’s one of those “high metabolism” people. Don’t get me started. No really, don’t.

In reference to my current dietary quest, my son has dubbed me a “Meat Avoider.” I suppose the title is apt. I would love to be a Vegetarian–or better yet… CONTINUE READING >>

Like all the girls of my generation, I can recite the basic principals of virtually any eating lifestyle — from the Cabbage Soup Diet to Adkins and all the crazy messed-up fads in between. And, chances are, I’ve tried it (fifteen years ago I dropped three dress sizes eating cream cheese and lunchmeat stuffed celery rolled in crushed pork rinds). David, though generally supportive of my dieting adventures, rarely fails to find the humor in it. He’s one of those “high metabolism” people. Don’t get me started. No really, don’t.

In reference to my current dietary quest, my son has dubbed me a “Meat Avoider.” I suppose the title is apt. I would love to be a Vegetarian–or better yet… CONTINUE READING >>

The Appy Crawl Philosophy

We take making meals out of appetizers very seriously. Having them at multiple restaurants is even better. For one thing, it forces us to walk off some of the food between stops, for another, we get to try several different places without destroying our credit rating. We’ve dubbed this bopping from eatery to eatery the “Appy Crawl.”

The most successful Appy Crawls involve three or more restaurants. The trick for the novice is to stay relaxed and not plan too much. It’s even better if there is something fun going on–a street fair, a music festival or just a hectic area of town with lots of goings on. Don’t worry about reservations–most busy restaurants will allow the ordering of appys in the cocktail area–a splendid place to be–the people watching abounds! Try to finish up with dessert and coffee–but not ever ever in the same place you had appetizers.

At every establishment…CONTINUE READING >>

We take making meals out of appetizers very seriously. Having them at multiple restaurants is even better. For one thing, it forces us to walk off some of the food between stops, for another, we get to try several different places without destroying our credit rating. We’ve dubbed this bopping from eatery to eatery the “Appy Crawl.”

The most successful Appy Crawls involve three or more restaurants. The trick for the novice is to stay relaxed and not plan too much. It’s even better if there is something fun going on–a street fair, a music festival or just a hectic area of town with lots of goings on. Don’t worry about reservations–most busy restaurants will allow the ordering of appys in the cocktail area–a splendid place to be–the people watching abounds! Try to finish up with dessert and coffee–but not ever ever in the same place you had appetizers.

At every establishment…CONTINUE READING >>