Catching up with Bartertown Diner's part owner and chef Ryan Cappalletti for an interview proved to be a bit difficult. Normally in the restaurant industry four in the afternoon on a weekday is a good time to find employees enjoying a lull in business before the dinner rush, but when I walked in at that time, it looked more like 7 p.m. on a Saturday. Although none of my questions got asked that day, the cheerfully busy atmosphere spoke volumes about how Grand Rapids has taken to the vegan/vegetarian employee-owned collective.
Show your support for Relay for Life of East Grand Rapids by eating at El Barrio Mexican Grill (545 Michigan St.) on Wednesday, May 2 from 5-9pm. 15% of all proceeds (including beverages) will go toward the Relay. Join guest host Peter Stuursma for a delicious meal while supporting a great cause. Offer also applies to take-out orders.
Brewery Vivant hosted a private beer party yesterday afternoon to introduce their summer ale: Zaison. It is now available to the public, both at the brewery and to take home in cans. Zaison is a saison style of ale, another traditional Belgium brew.
"We call ours an Imperial Saison because of the higher alcohol content; at 9% it can be a very sneaky one," said Rick Muschiana, Abbott of Beer at Brewery Vivant. "I like [to] see the smile creep onto people's faces after they've had a glass or two."
"Although this beer may be a little untraditional to some as a summer beer, to me it truly has the taste and look...
After a long and sometimes contentious battle with a variety of factors, Harmony Brewing Company is going through its final preparations and is set to open by the end of January at 1551 Lake Dr. SE, in a one-time liquor store that has sat vacant for the better part of a decade. Now however, the building has been almost completely redone, "[and] the finish-line is in sight," according to co-owner Heather Van Dyke.
Submitted by REVUE, West Michigan's Entertainment Guide
Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012, 2:34pm
Top 5 Caffeinated Cocktails
San Chez Bistro The Café de San Chez starts with flaming high-proof rum to caramelize a sugared rim. A holy trinity of Spanish brandy, Kahlua and Crème de Cacao follow and are topped with rich coffee and whipped cream. 38 W Fulton St., Grand Rapids; sanchezbistro.com, (616) 774-8272
CitySen Sweetly bridging the gap between the holiday season and the March observance of St. Patty's Day is CitySen's Nutty Leprechaun, a concoction of Bailey's Irish Cream, hazelnut liqueur, Goldschlager and coffee.
Grove, the latest restaurant venture from Essence Restaurant Group, opened this Tuesday at 5 p.m. in East Hills. Located at 919 Cherry St. SE, Grove joins a number of local neighborhood eateries and bars, such as The Winchester and The Meanwhile Bar, all expressing a commitment to locally sourced foods and beers. This is not a new concept to Essence, who uses this methodology in the menus of both its other restaurants, downtown's Bistro Bella Vita and Grove's across-the-street neighbor, The Green Well.
