Posts filed under 'Around Ann Arbor'
“Do You Accept Food Stamps?” Part I
By Kara Morris, written on Nov. 9, 2008
Today I visited a few of my regular food stops and asked whether they accept food stamps. Here’s what I’ve learned so far:
People’s Food Co-op: Yes
The Farmers Market: I believe a limited number of vendors accept food stamps. Otherwise, the Farmers market has developed a new currency for people living on food stamps, though I’m not sure if the program is yet in effect.
Sparrow Meat Market: Nope (and I really wanted that homemade butter). This is understandable; Sparrow’s, which also sells produce and a variety of organic products, is expensive. Generally, I only buy my meat and butter here.
Your Ann Arbor Drinking Guide
By Kara Morris, written on Nov. 4, 2008
Hopefully you’ll only need this resource to celebrate tonight.
A little while ago I listed a few resources for finding food in Ann Arbor; here’s one to find drinks. Want to know where to find the cheapest keg on campus? GetDrinksCheap.com, a site created by three U of M students this summer, will tell you which brand and where to buy.
Here, you can search a listing of over 2000 local beers by brand, size, store and maximum price. The site also lists Ann Arbor bar specials and info for 15 local stores that sell alcohol.
Presenting The Glass House Café
By Kara Morris, written on Oct. 30, 2008
The Glass House Café officially introduced itself to students Wednesday at its open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony. Located in Palmer Commons at the Life Sciences Complex, the café offers a locally-based menu at a relatively reasonable price.
The most exciting part of this new eatery is the café’s commitment to incorporate local produce into its dishes. Describing the menu as “upscale seasonal contemporary American cuisine,” executive chef Alan Merhar was contagiously excited about his new café when I spoke to him yesterday.
The name of the café, which reflects its floor-to-ceiling glass windows overlooking Palmer field, hints little about chef Merhar’s passion for local produce. With years of restaurant experience under his belt and a second restaurant in Tecumseh, MI, Merhar attempts to incorporate “as much local [food] as possible” into the dishes at both of his restaurants. Because he buys locally, the menu is highly seasonal; Merhar commented that he would be changing the menu within the next week.
But there is more to appreciate than the ingredients. The Glass House Café introduces an innovative selection of dishes that is a full step ahead of other campus restaurant menus. Offering a breakfast, lunch, and sandwich menu, the new restaurant also provides an equally creative catering service.
A few of the dishes introduced at the opening were:
goat cheese profiteroles featuring goat cheese from the Four Corners Creamery of Tecumseh, MI (whose products can be found exclusively at The Produce Station in Ann Arbor). The strength of the artisanal goat’s cheese was complemented with diced red and green peppers and applewood smoked baco
sliced steak panini with grilled flank steak, roasted garlic, Jarlsberg cheese and spinach greens. The panini’s flatbread was expertly toasted and well-matched with the Jarlsberg for an enjoyable crunch.
butternut squash soup with toasted pecans and bourbon-maple cream. The butternut squash came from Prochaska Farms of Tecumseh, MI; Chef Merhar’s enthusiasm couldn’t have been more apparent than when he showed me a few photos he’d taken on his phone from the far
The restaurant’s innovation is further suggested by its burgers, which can be served with sautéed mushrooms, applewood bacon and a variety of artisanal cheeses–or by its sides: customers have the option of choosing sweet potato hash browns with their sandwich selection and eggs and omelets are served, among other things, with Parmesan-rosemary fries.
Glass House Café
Palmer Commons Plaza, 100 Washtenaw Ave.
Dining Room: M-F 7:30 am - 2 pm
Coffee Counter: M-F: 7 am - 8 pm; Sat 9 am-3 pm
Finding Food in Ann Arbor
By Kara Morris, written on Oct. 26, 2008
Are you hoping to dine out, but don’t want to break the bank? Don’t know any restaurants aside from your late-night pizza stops?
Check out eatblue.com and campusfood.com for a listing of Ann Arbor eateries and periodical discounts. Both offer coupons and online ordering and list local restaurants and bars.
If you’re just looking for coupons, check out SuddenValues, which also coupons for non-food items.
The Pastry Peddler has Opened!
By Kara Morris, written on Oct. 3, 2008
I’ve been walking by the Ann Arbor store for weeks in heavy anticipation and, finally, The Pastry Peddler is open!
Located next to Campus Corner on Packard St., The Pastry Peddler showcases a selection of homemade pastries including croissants, monkey bread, tarts, eclairs and cookies. Cheesecakes and mini cakes for birthdays will also be on the menu. In the drinks category, The Pastry Peddler sells Intelligentsia coffee and looseleaf teas.
Educated at the French Pastry School of Chicago, owner and UM alum Katie Loy golfed professionally for six years before moving to baking. And get this: Loy golfed for U of M and was one of the “Big 10 Freshman of the Year,” another reason to visit her Packard location.
The tiny store has one humble table where patrons can enjoy their pastries, but Loy hopes to expand with sidewalk seating in the spring. If things go well, she also plans to start baking fresh loaves of bread (which is what I’m really interested in).
If you want to check out the store today, you’ll have to act quickly; hours run from 6am-2pm Monday-Saturday.
An Angelo’s Mishap
By Kara Morris, written on Sep. 26, 2008
Instead of having my roommates buy me drinks at dinner on my 21st birthday last March, I decided I wanted to drag all five of them out of bed for a Sunday morning breakfast.
When we arrived–and later when we left, we were greeted by the most unprofessional, threatening battle axe of a hostess I had ever met. I remember asking her to repeat herself only to have her bark back at me.
The hostess’s attitude helped wipe out my memory of the food itself. The only good thing I can remember is that my birthday breakfast cost a dollar.
Was it fast-paced restaurant jitters? If it was, I’ve never seen anyone handle themselves so poorly. It’s too bad the hostess was so objectionable; most people I know rave about their food.
Cupcake Reminder
By Kara Morris, written on Sep. 18, 2008
Don’t forget that The Cupcake Station is opening it’s doors to Ann Arbor tomorrow. They’ll be giving away free cupcakes to the first 500 visitors!
Opening at 10am; 116 E. Liberty St.
http://cupcakestation.com/
Thimble-sized Red Peppers: Still Hot
By Kara Morris, written on Sep. 14, 2008
I don’t know why I keep doing this. Or why I trusted my roommate’s boyfriend Chris
A few days ago I was given some tiny red peppers from Cultivating Community’s garden in front of the Ginsberg Center.
I let Chris do a test run first before I tried one; I now knew the potential power of the pepper. He chewed the whole thimble-sized thing and swallowed. I waited for five minutes just to be sure I wouldn’t be running around the house habhazardly again, but Chris didn’t flinch. “It’s a little hot,” he said
So I tried the pepper and did the hot pepper dance again: milk, yogurt, toothpaste, more toothpaste. At least I had the smarts not to spread it all over my face. No cucumbers this time.
SInce I’ve mentioned their hot peppers, I should also introduce you to Cultivating Community. Cultivating community is a student group connected with the Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum. From their website :
Cultivating Community believes in the importance of understanding and strengthening people’s connection to food. We encourage students to take a leading role in healthy food choices and earth-friendly cultivating techniques. We offer a hands-on experience for students to explore vermicomposting, sustainable gardening, and food waste recycling.
They have several gardens at the university, including one at The Union, Pierpont, and The Ginsberg Center. If you’re interested in learning about gardening, composting, eating seasonally, and sustainable agriculture, then contact mbgna.cc@umich.edu.
Cupcake Delay
By Kara Morris, written on Sep. 12, 2008
Don’t make the hike yet. The Cupcake Station has pushed back their grand opening to Friday, September 19.
Was it opening day jitters? While they did update their front doors, not all parts of their website bear the news yet. I’ll watch their website to let you know if they change the date again.
The Homegrown Festival is this Saturday!
By Kara Morris, written on Sep. 11, 2008
Check out Kerrytown’s Homegrown Festival this Saturday. The takes place from 11am-4pm across from the Ann Arbor Farmers Market. Here’s a look at the program overview from the HomeGrown Festival’s website:
The HomeGrown Festival will take place from 11:00am-4:00pm on Saturday September 13, 2008 in the field behind Community High School and across from the Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market, just off 5th Ave. Mayor John Hieftje will open the Festival at the Main Stage with remarks about the importance of local food in our community.
Our chefs are working with local farmers to create tasting portions of wonderful foods that they will offer for sale. Tickets will be available on-site for $2 each.
In addition to the food, there will also be a number of FREE concurrent activities including Project Grow’s incredible Tomato Taste-Off, a full plate of Chef Demos showing how easy and appealing it is to cook with local ingredients, engaging Kid’s Activities, a tasty Music Line-up, and sweet local non-profits to talk to. Finally, there will also be a Silent Auction with fabulous items donated by local merchants and farms.
All proceeds from the Festival go toward making this a defining annual event for our community.
This looks like it’s going to be a great event, especially if you’re interested in learning about local food options. For more information and a list of chef demos, bands, and vendors, visit http://www.homegrownfestival.org/Home.html