MI Best - Weekend Edition - FEB 19, 2023

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When we chose the stories for this edition, all the events and dates were accurate. As always, find the mostup-to-date information on the event/activity website, Facebook page or other direct information source.

[LOOK INSIDE] Find your next favorite with Local Eats

Michigan’s Best Local Eats:

Crust bakery

FAUD SHALHOUT |fshalhout@mlive.com

to host ‘Beignet Day’ once a month FENTON, MI

Crust, a baking company in Fenton, offers a variety of items on its menu.

But perhaps the most popular is the beignet, and you’ll have a chance to try it out starting this Sunday, Jan. 29, from 9-11 a.m.

Tabbing it ‘Beignet Day,’ the baking company located at 104 W. Caroline St. will offer fried beignets on the last Sunday of every month from 9 a.m.-11 a.m.

It will not be served on any other days of the year.

Beignet Day first started in May 2014 and since then Crust has learned they are a favorite of many.

Beignets are square shaped pieces of dough that are deep fried and generously sprinkled with confectioners’ sugar. They

El Limon

a JORDYN PAIR | jpair@mlive.com

ANN ARBOR, MI

new restaurant is bringing a fusion of flavor to Ann Arbor.

El Limon, 2709 Plymouth Road, blends Mexican and Mediterranean cuisines in dishes like falafel tacos and spinach feta quesadillas.

“These are my two favorite cuisines, so it’s nice to cook something that you love and see how we can let these two cultures, two language and two histories be combined using food,” owner Ali Hijazi said.

“We’ll see. So far, it’s working excellent.”

The restaurant is the newest concept from Hijazi, who also owns Zamaan Café, which has two Ann Arbor locations.

While El Limon opened roughly a month ago, the concept has been cooking for a while, Hijazi said. He opened the nowclosed Mexican restaurant 8Tortas in the space neighboring the Zamaan Café at 3580

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are served with a pastry cream or dinner and are also located inside American berry jam and are best the Flint and Davison Farmers paired with a cup of coffee or café Markets Tuesday, Thursday and au lait.

Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

“We started this because there The bakery will host Paczki was nothing like it in the area,” Day on Feb. 21 for Fat Tuesday, said marketing manager Lauren and special orders are on sale Gruber. “A lot of people enjoy it, with flavors in pastry cream, and we usually sell out American berry, before 11 a.m.” chocolate cayenne, Crust was founded in lemon, raspberry and 2012 by Chad and Mary INFO strawberry.

Beth Brennan, Mark Crust will Normal dine-in and Hamel and Mike Green celebrate its 11 carryout hours are -- and won MLive’s year anniversary on from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Michigan’s Best Bakery Wednesday, Feb. 1 Tuesday-Saturday. in 2018. and will offer free Follow Crust on The bakery stretches cake slices. for nearly a block down Facebook at facebook.

First and com/crustfenton.

Caroline Street and is foremost, people are easily identified by its encouraged to swing bright yellow roof-like covers on through for Beignet Day. the outside of the building.

“It’s not a regular thing, so Crust offers their baked goods people get really excited about it,” in entrees for breakfast, lunch and Gruber said.

fuses Mediterranean, Mexican cuisines

Plymouth Road.

“That’s when we found, my goodness.

There’s so much in common, not just in history and language and culture, it’s also food,” he said.

Although Hijazi said he has yet to introduce a dish that is perfect blend of the two cuisines, the closest is probably the cauliflower tahini bowl, which is served with Mexican rice and beans and a tahini jalapeno sauce.

“In our sauces, we are playing around with combining both flavors,” Hijazi said. “You can tell it’s a bit different because we’re cheating.

We’re adding some of our Mediterranean touch to it.”

Other dishes include a bean and sweet potato quesadilla with red

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peppers and mango, as well as a chicken shawarma burrito with jalapeno and garlic.

Hijazi said he was inspired the varieties of ethnicities he sees among the people of Ann Arbor.

“It’s not like I’m attracting these cuisines to me. I think I was attracted to it,” he said. “And then here comes your crazy imagination, thinking of a crazy idea and see if it will make people happier. We’ll see.”

INFO El Limon is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Monday through Saturday. Find the restaurant by phone at 734-780-7088.

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Michigan’s Best Local Eats:

Deep-fried Monte Cristo from the

E

Junction

t HEATHER JORDAN | heather_jordan@mlive.com

SAGINAW, M

he sweet and salty deep-fried Monte Cristo is one of Saginaw Old Town Junction’s popular specials, but it’s only available for a couple of weeks at a time.

“It’s a very good sandwich,” said head cook Rob Dawson. “You just can’t go wrong with the Monte Cristo.”

It’s a “hearty sandwich” topped with ham, turkey and Swiss, then dipped in pancake batter and deep fried and garnished with raspberry preserves and powdered sugar, he said. It’s on the menu for two weeks at a time, then unavailable for a month before it returns.

“Everybody loves it,” he said.

The Junction also has pizza, nachos, burgers, salads, sandwiches and a full bar. Behind the bar,

there’s a one-of-a-kind drink elevator one of owner Tony Krasinki’s friends made featuring a 3-D printed red caboose that can carry up to four drinks at a time to customers on the second level.

Krasinski said customers also love the chips with homemade dill dip, made with his mother’s recipe that he keeps secret even from his kitchen staff.

When experimenting with ingredients and adding new items to his menu, Krasinki’s philosophy is this: “People like simple food that

tastes good.”

The bar and restaurant offer live music, trivia on Wednesday nights and brunch on Saturdays. The Junction will host its first drag brunch in late February, and tickets sold out within a couple of hours.

The kitchen will soon introduce TV and movie-themed burgers for a limited time, starting with burgers inspired by the animated series The Simpsons and Bob’s Burgers.

Grand Haven’s

The Copper Post

t

serves tasty smoked steaks, BBQ fried ribs SKYLA JEWELL-HAMMIE | SJewell-Hammie@mlive.com

GRAND HAVEN, M

he Copper Post has become a local favorite to grab classic barbecue dishes and drinks right in the heart of downtown Grand Haven.

Doug Vanse and Mike Thorp opened the American BBQ restaurant in 2018, located at 100 Washington Ave., with the hope of keeping the historic flare of the 1870s building when it was originally known as the Grand Haven Post Office.

“The building is beautiful,” said David McKay, head chef at The Copper Post. “We got hardwood floors, the ceiling is copper-textured, and there’s a lot of art on the walls. It’s homey.”

The restaurant prides itself on the vintage feel of the

venue and the comfortable environment, along with mouthwatering BBQ selections, classic beer, wine and cocktails.

One of the top sellers on the menu is the BBQ fried ribs ($12.95) made with in-house slow-cooked ribs individually rubbed and smoked, tossed with house BBQ sauce, and topped with green onions.

Other options on the menu include tasty handhelds like the classic double burger ($12.94) and savory smokehouse entrees like the BBQ Mac n’ Cheese baked with pulled pork ($18.95).

“The prime rib is always my favorite,” McKay said.

“But we do have a little bit of everything on the menu.

There’s a full sandwich section, a lot of appetizers and some pretty good salads.”

Besides the mouthwatering dishes, The Copper Post is equipped with a full bar of specialty gins, bourbons and eight different craft beers. The top seller continues to be the classic Old Fashioned cocktail ($10).

Additionally, The Copper

INFO For more information, find Saginaw Old Town Junction on Facebook.

Post offers smoked slowroasted prime rib with garlic mashed potatoes and a side house salad every Friday and Saturday night for $22.

McKay touts the business as a unique place to dine in.

“I feel like our prices are better than the neighborhood, and our portions are bigger,” he said. “We smoke meats in-house, which we’re pretty much the only place in town that does that.”

INFO Hours of operation for The Copper Post are Monday through Thursday, from 7 a.m.

- 8 p.m., 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. Friday through Saturday and 7 a.m.

- 7 p.m. on Sunday. Breakfast is served every Saturday and Sunday, from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Order takeout by calling (616) 414-7950.

New winery wants

a

to be ‘oasis’ in Portage

MARIE WEIDMAYER | mweidmay@mlive.com

PORTAGE, MI

new urban winery in Portage wants to be a gathering place for the community.

Customers can enjoy wine and elevated food at 468 Urban Winery, 8842 Portage Road. The winery opened its doors Jan. 20.

“I just hope that people will come in, see what it’s about and hopefully enjoy the ambience that we’ve created, find it like (a) little oasis here in Portage,” winery owner Lauren Bodamer said.

468 Wine is an homage to the three children Bodamer and her husband Brian have. They were born in April, June and August, the fourth, sixth and eighth months of the year.

Bodamer started selling and shipping gift boxes with Michigan-made goods during the coronavirus pandemic through her company Truly Kind. She always had an interest in wine and started making personalized labels to go on wine bottles that shipped in the gift boxes.

From there the idea grew into the opening of an urban winery. Now 468 Wine ferments their own Moscato and Riesling in-house, while bottling

MICHIGAN’S BEST | 2.19.23 | 2

other types shipped in from California and Washington, Bodamer said.

Wine can be ordered in a tasting flight of four, 2-ounce pours for $10, by the glass or by the bottle. They currently offer 11 wines, from a sparkling white brut, to a Napa Cabernet Sauvignon to a rosé.

The goal is for customers to have great wine in a comfortable setting. The new store front features comfortable bar seating, lounge seating and traditional table seating.

Bodamer wants people to know they genuinely care about them and wants them to feel like more than just a customer.

“I hope that they find this place very welcoming and accepting of anybody and everybody,” Bodamer said.

“We want to create that atmosphere of community.”

Simple but artisan dishes made in-house are featured on the winery’s menu. Visitors can select from various hors d’oeuvres and sandwiches, including a baked brie with various jam toppings, $12, a Caesar salad $9, grilled prosciutto and cheese, $8 and avocado toast, $8.

Grab and go charcuterie boards from The Grazing Table are also available at the winery.

468 Wine is opening a tasting room at The Grazing Table in downtown Kalamazoo. Bodamer met The Grazing Table owners about a year and a half ago. They are separate businesses but do work together for various things.

Michigan’s Best Local Eats:

Vito’s Espresso’s

dine-in spot is open, ready to serve tasty pastries

v

ito’s Espresso may have closed its downtown location, but the Spring Arbor location is running and ready to serve.

While Vito’s Espresso opened its drive-thru at 7975 Spring Arbor Road in spring 2022, the dining room opened just a few months ago, owner Vic Schiro said. Schiro said he wanted to stay in Jackson, but it didn’t have a full kitchen or dining room.

After taking a second look at the former Spring Arbor Café building, he knew it was a winner.

“We looked for over a year and didn’t find anything in Jackson that had a kitchen and that was suitable for dine-in and what we wanted,” Schiro said. “We saw this and we were like, ‘We could do it. We could make it cozy.’”

Schiro said he wanted a place where people could sit and chat, which is what he found in Spring Arbor.

“What we want is hospitality,” Schiro said. “It’s really hard at a grab and go to show you the hospitality that we want to. We can still smile

and ask about your day, but it’s not like sitting down with you and sharing a cup of coffee.”

The new space has been popular with Spring Arbor University students looking for a place to study and to residents looking to grab breakfast or lunch.

Everything is made in house on the café-oriented menu, Schiro said.

The muffins are popular, he said. A range of flavors can be found, including blueberry and apple cinnamon.

Other baked goods, like cannoli, cinnamon rolls,

also can be found. Baklava, a layered pastry dessert filled with chopped nuts, spices and topped with honey, is also popular, Schiro said, as are the breakfast wraps.

Vito’s Espresso is looking to add other menu items, including salads, quiches and an oatmeal bar, he said.

Drinks have a strong focus on espresso, Schiro said. This includes a range of lattes, cappuccinos, breves and cortados. Other drinks, like loose leaf teas, chai lattes and more, can be found for noncoffee drinkers.

INFO Vito’s Espresso, 7975 Spring Arbor Road, is open 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. More information can be found on its Facebook page and website, vitosespresso.com.

North End Coffee Cafe Bake

o

in Fenton Township provides eclectic menu

FENTON TWP., MI

FAUD SHALHOUT |fshalhout@mlive.com

pened in November 2021, North End Coffee Cafe Bake is a unique spot for people to swing through.

Whether someone wants to grab a cup of coffee, tea or sandwiches, North End provides the community options for both breakfast and lunch.

The current location,11440 Torrey Road, was

an abandoned warehouse before the business.

“The building was an eyesore,” said Alisa Antonangeli, North End’s owner. “It’s located right across from the old high school I used to go to, which is now the middle school (Lake Fenton Middle School). When the property went up for sale, I just knew it was a need in the community.”

The property is owned by Shoemaker Landscaping, and Antonangeli is renting out the front of the property.

The breakfast sandwiches are one of the most popular items, which include a variation of eggs and meat.

Overnight oats are popular, which have protein powders and can include apple pie, banana Nutella, and almond joy.

There are three paninis on the menu: Turkey club panini, chicken caprese panini, and spicy Italian panini, and a variety of soups are available.

“The breakfast sandwich is our most popular item,” Antonangeli said. “I

INFO

j

JACKSON, MI

ackson has changed over the years, but one thing that’s remained the same are the Coney dogs at Jackson Coney Island.

According to Jackson history, Jackson Coney Island began in 1914 under the guidance of the city’s legendary Coney godfather George Todoroff at 615 E. Michigan Ave. The restaurant has been under many different owners since INFO then, with current owner Dave Griffus Jackson Coney Island taking over in 2014, is open 10 a.m. to 8 Manager Brittany p.m. Monday through Craig said. Through Thursday, 10 a.m. the years and different to 9 p.m. Friday and owners, though, the Saturday and 10 a.m. to atmosphere, style and 6 p.m. Sunday. recipes have stayed the More information can same, she said. be found on Jackson “It makes us feel good Coney Island’s website that we can keep that and Facebook page. same tradition going and people can come in here and still get that,” Craig said. “I had a guy come in about a month and a half ago and he’s like, ‘I haven’t been here in 40 some years, I hope they taste the same.’ And they still taste the same.”

go through about 200 a week.”

North End Coffee Cafe Bake hosts bridal and baby showers on Saturdays from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. about once a month.

Inside North End Coffee Cafe Bake brings a home-like comfort, designed by Antonangeli.

In the 10 years prior to opening her own business, Antonangeli worked in marketing for Fenton Physical Therapy and is a homegrown Fenton resident.

For those with kids, North End Coffee Cafe Bake offers a special bubble tea that have juice filled poppers filled with either strawberry, lemonade, kiwi, raspberry, pineapple or mango, and on Fridays they support Blueline Donuts near downtown Flint, where its donuts are delivered.

“I want this to be a place people can feel comfortable,” Antonangeli said.

“Especially after COVID-19, I felt people were disconnected. So I want this to be a place where everybody can come and feel like they’re seen and heard and cultivate that sense of community.”

Business hours are Monday-Friday from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Follow North End Coffee Cafe Bake on Facebook.

Take a bite of history and tradition at

CHLOE MILLER | cmiller@mlive.com

CHLOE MILLER | cmiller@mlive.com

SPRING ARBOR, MI

Jackson

Coney Island

Since its opening, the restaurant has been home to thousands of stories and memories, including birthdays, engagements and family gatherings, she said.

“People came here with their grandparents, so they continue to come here,” Craig said. “It’s just so many memories – and some people have certain booths like they’ll wait to sit in because it’s just always their booth.”

Jackson Coney Island still uses the original recipe for its Coney dog sauce, including using beef heart, because “anything else is just a chili dog,” Craig said.

While the Coney dog steals the show at the restaurant, the rest of the menu should not be overlooked. A variety of hotdogs, sandwiches, soups, wraps, salads and burgers can be found on the menu, along with some breakfast options, like biscuits and gravy and corned beef hash.

The ‘Ridiculously Good Italian’ grinder also lives up to its name, Craig said. It’s stacked with salami, pepperoni, ham, banana peppers, red onion, lettuce, tomato, Italian dressing and provolone cheese.

MICHIGAN’S BEST | 2.19.23 | 3

Fan Favorite

Olga’s famous Snackers are in the form of chicken wings

EDWARD PEVOS | epevos@MLive.com

j Photo | provided by Olga’s

ust in time for the Super Bowl, Olga’s Kitchen has launched, for its first time ever, Snacker Chicken Wings. The wings use the same fan-favorite Olga’s Snackers seasoning and are available as an appetizer or platter.

The app features the wings tossed in the Snackers seasoning with cilantro and is served with a side of ranch. The platter offers three flavor options: Signature Snacker Seasoning wings, Sweet Honey Sriracha and Barbecue.

The small platter serves five to six people and allows for up to two flavor choices. The large platter serves double that and allows for up to three flavors.

“Olga’s Snackers have been a fan-favorite menu item for decades and we’re thrilled to take the cravable seasoning fans know and love and add them to wings for a whole new way to enjoy a signature Olga’s flavor,” said Tom Ruddy

director of culinary and purchasing at Olga’s Kitchen.

“Being a more than 50-year-old brand, we’re proud of our rich, entrepreneurial history and are embracing the same spirit of innovation our founder Olga had with the new items we’re introducing to our guests.”

On top of the new wings, Olga’s recently launched a few other new menu items including Brussel Sprouts, a Loaded Hummus Bowl and a Power Bowl consisting of brussel sprouts, red onions, chickpeas, craisins, beets, cucumbers and tomatoes over greens with feta cheese.

Olga’s was founded in 1970

by Olga Loizon. There are 22 Olga’s Kitchens, three Olga’s Fresh Grilles and five Olga’s Express restaurants across the country with Michigan restaurants located throughout Metro Detroit and Ann Arbor with a restaurant in Kalamazoo and one in Comstock Park near Grand Rapids.

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