Michigan’s Best Local Eats: ‘Bloody Mary GRILLED CHEESE’ from Valerie’s Downtown

SAGINAW, MI

Valerie’s Downtown serves

Mexican cuisine and sandwiches in downtown Saginaw, including a “bloody Mary grilled cheese” that’s like a grilled cheese and a BLT in one.

“That is my mom’s creation,” said restaurant owner Juliana Stricker. “It’s very popular.”

This savory sandwich dreamed up by Juanita Stricker is made with Texas toast, pepper jack, sharp cheddar and Swiss cheeses, apple wood smoked bacon and tomato.

“We use actually bloody Mary sauce, dip it in there with the egg, and then get that all crisped up on the grill,” Juliana Stricker said.

The hot sandwich is then garnished with green olives.

Located at 216 S. Washington Ave. in downtown Saginaw, Valerie’s also offers nachos, wet burritos, tacos and more.

“Our nachos are very popular,” Stricker said. “They’ve been popular since the start.”

Valerie’s nachos come with your choice of protein — chuck, chicken, carnitas or vegetarian Baja “burger” — black beans, black and/or green olives, corn, tomato, cheese, lettuce, jalapeno, homemade crema and salsa on the side.

INFO Valerie’s is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and sometimes opens for extended hours when special events are happening at night or on the weekends downtown. Valerie’s patio will reopen for outdoor dining in May, and live music on Friday nights begins in June.