Round We Went - Second Stop the U.P.

Second Stop - Monday and Tuesday
Packed up camp and drove to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We stayed one night in Manistique and one night in Curtis. Full trip overview here.

After packing up camp Monday morning in Door County, we headed to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, also known as the U.P.  We had great views of Lake Michigan during our drive and stopped to have a picnic at a roadside park.

We eventually arrived in the small town of Manistique, which is situated right on Lake Michigan. We stayed at Gray Wolf Lodge, which has the only indoor pool in the area. I have to admit, that was the draw for us. Isabelle really wanted to go swimming in a pool, but first we had to find a place for dinner. Since it is a small town and it was a Monday night, our choices were limited. We ended up at Big Boy, where kids eat free and they serve a tasty strawberry pie. After dinner Isabelle was highly entertained with the moose and teepees outside the restaurant.

About as close as we got to seeing a moose.

Next up was "swimming pool"!!! We had the pool all to ourselves and swam and swam and swam until we were all worn out.

The next morning for breakfast we went to Three Seasons Cafe, right next door to the hotel. It was full of regulars and the food was traditional breakfast fare (French toast, omelets, blueberry pancakes, etc.) and it was plentiful. We even bought a Isabelle a cute moose t-shirt that says Moosely I'm Cute.  Couldn't resist! After breakfast we took a walk along the foggy lake. We also got our first taste of the Yooper mosquitoes.

After packing up the car we drove about 14 miles east to see the Seul Choix Point Lighthouse. We took a quick tour of the lighthouse where at one point three families used to live together. Tight quarters! Tom also climbed up to the top to check out the view.

Isabelle and I both fell asleep during the next leg of our journey, but when we woke up Tom had taken us to Tahquamenon Falls State Park to see the largest waterfall west of Niagara Falls. We had a short walk to see the upper falls, but we were very glad we brought the bug spray. Those Yooper mosquitoes were out in full force! It was kind of funny to see everyone swatting/walking and carrying huge cans of bug spray. Isabelle even had the routine down. She would lift her shirt when she saw I was ready to give her a spritz.

Can you tell she had just woken up?

After we viewed the falls, we had lunch at the Tahquamenon Falls Brewery, situated right by the park entrance. It was designed to feel like an old logging camp. The food was great, but for Tom the highlight was trying the flight of beer. He wanted to take some home, but alas they only had growlers, which would not keep until we arrived back in Chicago.

After lunch we made our way to our home for the night in Curtis. Chamberlin's Ole Forest Inn has a large back porch and beautiful views of Manistique Lake. Our room was on the top floor, had a private bathroom and it faced the lake. It even had a nice nook for Tom and I to hang out and watch the sunset while Isabelle fell asleep. Isabelle's favorite part of the inn was the larger than life doll house on the second floor landing. It was hard to pull her away and we had to entice her with a trip to the park. 

Thank goodness for the step stool!

We found a park at the local elementary school and when it started to spit rain we went to the ice cream parlor for a little dessert before we had dinner at the inn. The service was top-notch and there were plenty of people (who were clearly grandparents) in attendance to dote on Isabelle. One even offered to buy her a stuffed animal from the gift shop to distract her from running to doll house on the second floor.  I didn't think a stuffed animal and food were a good mix, but it was such a nice offer! We had a great stay at Chamberlin's Ole Forest Inn and one more important note, a hot breakfast was included with our stay and it was delicious! We also had a chance to chat with the owner and they even pulled out a bunch of toys for Isabelle to play with. It made packing up the car much easier!

You know you're up north when it's still light out at 10:08 PM.

WHERE TO STAY

Gray Wolf Lodge
6770 W US HWY 2
Manistique, MI 49854
Phone: 906-341-2410

Chamberlin's Ole Forest Inn
N9450 Manistique Lakes Rd (aka Hwy 33)
Curtis, MI 49820
Phone: 906-586-6000


WHERE TO EAT

Three Seasons Cafe
6770W US HWY 2
Manistique, MI 49854
Phone: 906-341-3463

Tahquamenon Falls Brewery
M-123 Upper Falls Dr
Paradise, MI 49768
Phone: 906-492-3300

Chamberlin's Ole Forest Inn
N9450 Manistique Lakes Rd (aka Hwy 33)
Curtis, MI 49820
Phone: 906-586-6000
 

Round We Went - First Stop Door County

First Stop - Saturday and Sunday
Drove to Door County, Wisconsin and camped in Peninsula State Park in Fish Creek for two nights. Full trip overview here.

On day one of our trip we left Chicago and headed north to Door County - our first stop on the Lake Michigan Circle Tour.  For lunch we had a picnic at Renard's Cheese in Sturgeon Bay, WI. We had packed a lunch, but had to buy some fresh cheese curbs (come on, we were in Wisconsin!), then spread out on a picnic table right by the play set. We ended up spending a lot more time there than we thought. The slide was a big draw for Isabelle, a trend that would continue throughout our trip.  

After Ranard's Cheese we made a few more stops for beer and fudge in Egg Harbor, then drove down to Peninsula State Park in Fish Creek. When we made our reservation at Peninsula State Park we couldn't get a site for two nights, which meant we would have to pack up and move camp on Sunday. Luckily when we arrived the wonderful people at the camp office found a site we could stay at for two nights in a row and it was right across from the bathroom. Amazing luck for pregnant me and it turned out there was another pregnant mom camping on the other side of the bathroom. We both had the same bright idea to bring an air mattress. Best idea I ever had and because we have a electrical adapter for the car, so we brought along an extension cord and blew the air mattress up right in our tent. 

Relaxing on the air mattress.

For Isabelle we did the same set up as last year where she slept in the pack n' play, but this year she also had her very own 20 degree sleeping bag. The nights were chilly! Setting up the tent was much easier this year. Mainly because Isabelle was on her best behavior and even helped us by holding the bag with the tent stakes. 

There were a few things to remind us we were camping with a toddler.

1) She liked to run off, usually towards the road that runs through the campground, so one of us was constantly watching her.

2) She woke up with the birds and before the sun rose. That's right, Isabelle was up around 5 both mornings.  We bribed her with the iPad to stay in bed with us for a bit, but we were still up, out of the tent and off to breakfast before most of the other campers were awake.

3) We had to give her a shower in the handicap stall with me swatting away mosquitoes while Tom manned the water.  I still can't believe she didn't freak out!

Breakfast at Al Johnson's - yummy!

Here's how we spent our days...

On Saturday after we pitched the tent we took a walk to see Eagle Bluff Lighthouse. Isabelle loved running around, picking dandelions and playing with the rocks. We went for an early dinner in town at Cooper's Corner and the weather was so nice we ate out on the deck. The food was delicious and the restaurant was surprisingly kid friendly. Isabelle's meal was even served on a Frisbee that we got to take home. After dinner we wandered around town and picked up some fudge, are you sensing a trend here? Back at the campsite we put Isabelle down to bed and made a nice fire.

The next morning our first stop was Al Johnson's in Sister Bay for a breakfast of Swedish meatballs and pancakes. An amazing combo! Then we went for a walk to look at the boats, played at a park (slides!) and then went to church.

After church Isabelle fell asleep in the car, so we went roading to get Tom's favorite smoked fish. After she woke up we picked up some picnic supplies and had lunch at a park (hello slide!) in Fish Creek. After lunch we picked up a kite at the Fish Creek Kite Company, visited the Nature Center at Peninsula State Park and went to the beach to fly the kite (and play on the slide). It was a great afternoon!

Exploring at the Nature Center.

For dinner that night we went to Wild Tomato for amazing pizza and salad. Once again the weather was amazing so we ate outside. After dinner we made a campfire and Isabelle got to hang out with us for a bit before her bedtime.

Our last morning in Door County was spent at a new spot in Fish Creek, Linger Coffee House and we definitely lingered. Coffee was just what we needed after another early morning and the fresh pastries were a bonus. Isabelle had a blast exploring every inch and especially enjoyed the kid's nook. After breakfast we went back to camp and packed up. We can't wait to go back next year!

WHERE TO STAY

Peninsula State Park
9462 Shore Rd.
Fish Creek, WI 54212
Phone: 920-868-3258


WHERE TO EAT

Fish Creek Cooper's Corner

4170 Main Street

Fish Creek, WI 54212

Phone: 920-868-2667

Wild Tomato

4023 State Hwy 42
Fish Creek, WI 54212

Phone: 920-868-3095

Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant 

10698 N. Bay Shore Dr.

Sister Bay, WI  54234

Phone: 920-854-2626

Linger Coffee House
9431 Spruce Street

Fish Creek, WI 54212
Phone: 920-868-5068

Round We Went!

It seems like when we're on vacation time slows down and the minute we come home we're back at warp speed. At least we had 8 nights and 9 days to live life at a slower pace. During much of our trip we barely had cell reception. It was wonderful! This could get really long, so I plan on writing about our trip over a few posts. Until then here's an overview of our Lake Michigan Circle Tour.

Saturday and Sunday
Drove to Door County, Wisconsin and camped in Peninsula State Park in Fish Creek.

Monday and Tuesday
Packed up camp and drove to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We stayed one night in Manistique and one night in Curtis.

Wednesday and Thursday
Drove to Mackinac City and took the ferry to Mackinac Island where we stayed for two nights.

Friday and Saturday
Took a the ferry back to Mackinac City, drove south along the east coast of Michigan with a detour to see Sleeping Bear Dunes. Then made our way to Whitehall which was our home base for the last two nights.

Sunday
We made a leisurely drive home to Chicago with a few stops along the way in New Buffalo and Michigan City.

Happy family at our first stop in Door County.

Let's not make this easy

Our vacation is fast approaching and my to-do list is getting rather long. One of the major items is PACKING. I always struggle with it and tend to over-pack.  What if it's suddenly cold? Better pack that extra fleece and hat! What if we're hungry? Better packs lots and lots of snacks! What if Isabelle gets bored? Better packs lots of bubbles, toys and books! So that might be a slight exaggeration, but I do have to remind myself that we're not going to the middle of nowhere and if I forget something we can always buy it...well most things. (Adding the camera to my packing list right now.)

For this particular trip we're camping for two of the nights, so that means a car full of camping gear. We're also staying on Mackinac Island for two nights and cars are not allowed on the island. That means we'll have to do a little repacking mid-trip to ensure all of the necessities will be easy to carry onto the ferry and fit in the horse drawn carriage that will take us to the condo we rented. I think it's worth the extra effort because come on, we get to ride in a horse drawn carriage!

Fish Creek, Wisconsin

Try Not to Laugh at Me

When we went camping last September I noticed a fellow mom helping tear down the tent while keeping track of her kids...and she was really pregnant.  I distinctly remember laughing in disbelief and telling Tom that he would never get me to go camping while pregnant.  Well guess what, I changed my mind. All on my own! I think it was the beautiful weather we've been having in Chicago that helped and the fact that I'm feeling great. So today we reserved our campsites at Peninsula State Park and decided to do the reverse Lake Michigan Circle Tour with our first stop in Door County. The decision was really based on the availability of campsites - it's plural on purpose. The park is undergoing some construction, so not all of the campsites are available, plus it's their busy season. So we'll have to switch campsites. No biggie, right? Anyway, it looks like we're camping for a few days during our road trip. Now we're off to find a hotel on Mackinac Island that won't break the bank.

Round We'll Go?

This year we're adding a new member to our family...Baby E #2 is due September 27!  We're very excited and can't wait to explore the world as a family of four, but while we're still a family of three we want to take one last vacation. I think we've decided on a road trip in June and a few ideas have been tossed around. The one that's sticking right now is to do the Lake Michigan Circle Tour.  We would go counterclockwise around Lake Michigan, starting in Chicago, heading north through Michigan, perhaps venturing into Canada, then heading south through Wisconsin and ending up back home in Chicago.  Stops along the way might include the Indiana Dunes, Saugatuck or Holland, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Mackinac Island, Sault Ste. Marie in Ontario (as long as we don't forget the passports) and of course we'll have to stop in Door County.  Although we'll leave the tent at home this year.  I can't imagine I'll want to rough it while pregnant, but we'll see!

Have you done the Lake Michigan Circle Tour? What are some of your favorite road trips?

Europe 2012 - Picking up our rental car in Germany. We've learned how to pack better since then!

Armchair Traveling

Tom and I love traveling and when we can't physically go on vacation, we like to watch travel shows.  Here are two of our favorites - both are available on our local PBS channels.

Globe Trekkers
This show was inspired by the Lonely Planet guidebooks and began airing in 1994. They really go off the beaten path and explore exotic locals throughout the world such as Morocco, Columbia, Nepal as well as Europe and the United States. They usually travel with a backpack, spend little and often stay in hostels. Most episodes involve an intense hike or two, eating local food and lots of adventures.  For us it's fun to escape for an hour and explore a new part of the world, because chances are we will not be taking any trips like these for a long time!

Rick Steves' Europe
Rick Steves is our travel guru for all things Europe.  His show began airing in 1991 and it gives you a slice of what a typical tourist will see and do, with some unique experiences thrown in - like spending Christmas in the Alps and riding sleds down the mountain with a freshly cut Christmas tree. He gives a lot of practical tips and is a big fan of spending the night to let you really explore an area without all of the day tripping tourists.  We follow that advice whenever we can.  One of my favorite overnight stops was Toledo, Spain.  This walled city was bustling with tourists during the day, but at night it felt like we had the place to ourselves as we wandered around to find a restaurant for dinner.  Now when we watch his half hour shows it's fun to revisit the places we've been and seek out new destinations.  Did I mention we have the first 80 episodes on DVD thanks to a PBS membership drive? We do!

Cheeseburger in Paradise...la la la!

A few weeks ago Tom and I enjoyed a long weekend in the Florida Keys. That's right, just the two of us in paradise. Tom was already in Fort Lauderdale for work, so I flew in Friday morning and we made the 2 hour drive down Highway 1 to the Florida Keys. As the mile markers were counting down, we knew it was time for lunch so we stopped at Mrs. Mac's Kitchen in Key Largo. It was so busy that we had to wait for parking. You know you found a good spot when a place is that packed! The interior of the restaurant is really kitschy with tons of license plates plastered all over the walls, but Tom and I decided to enjoy the warm weather while we could and ate outside. We enjoyed fresh fish and crab cakes with all the trimmings and for dessert we tried the restaurant's specialty, a Key Lime Freeze.

After lunch we continue down Highway 1 to our home for the next three nights - La Siesta Hotel and Marina in Islamorada. Our room wasn't ready, so we decided to take a dip in the pool, soak up the sun and relax to the island tunes (the XM station Margaritaville was constantly playing). The resort is a little tired, but it sits right on the water and features a heated pool, marina, free kayak rentals, breakfast in the morning has a variety of rooms that all include a kitchen. We were lucky and stayed in a one-bedroom oceanfront cottage that had a little patio and a hammock. What's not to love?

Our little cottage

We had a great view from our cottage

That night we did a little shopping and had dinner at Lazy Days which sits right on the water. We once again ate al fresco and if it had been during the day we would have had a great view of the ocean. The food was great and Tom even got to eat an entire fish!

Tom's perfect meal

The next morning we took a kayak out and it was a really good workout, especially when the wind picked up. It was also very peaceful, just cruising along looking at the ocean, the sea life and checking out the oceanfront homes. For lunch we went to Shula Burger to have our cheeseburger in paradise, but when we walked back to the car we had a very flat tire on the rental car, apparently very common in the Florida Keys. We had to wait for a new tire, so we wandered over to the Tiki Bar and had a couple tropical drinks. We could have waited there all afternoon, but we had places to be! The tire guy eventually showed up sans tire, so that meant we had to put the spare on and switch the car in the morning.

Flat tire? No problem!

In the afternoon we went to Robbie's Marina for a snorkeling trip. The Happy Cat boat took us to two different coral reefs where we saw tons of colorful fish and even a crab. The waves were about two feet high and we were bobbing all over. Both of us drank our share of the ocean that day!

After our busy day, we were looking forward to a relaxing dinner at Morada Bay Beach Cafe. We noticed it the night before when we were shopping and knew we had to come back. It's situated right on the beach, lit up with tiki torches and there is a live band playing most nights. They don't take reservations, so we made sure to get there early. While we waited we enjoyed some cocktails, live music and watched the sun set. Pretty perfect, but it got even better. We had a prime table on the beach and the food was amazing, especially the conch chowder and key lime pie.

Morada Bay Beach Cafe

Table isn't ready yet? No problem!

Sunday was our last full day and our first stop was in Marathon to switch cars. After that we met up with Tom's friend who was staying at Bahai Honda State Park. Kyle has been traveling around North America for over four years and lives full-time in an Airstream trailer. I have to say it is one of the nicest trailers I've ever seen. Not to mention he gets to wake up to an amazing view every morning. Bahia Honda State Park is immaculate and has real sandy beaches. Most of the Florida Keys doesn't have actual beaches, because of wear and tear from hurricanes and other natural forces.

Once we said good-bye to Kyle we continued down Highway 1 and stopped for lunch at Boondocks in Ramrod. If you go, try the truffle chips. You won't be disappointed! Our next destination was Key West and on our way we went through the Key Deer habitat. Unfortunately no sightings.

Key West is party central. They even allow drinking in the streets. Since it was Sunday, it was a bit tamer than normal, but I don't think we'll be taking Isabelle there anytime soon. We did a lot of walking, popped into a bunch of shops and even went to the southern most point in the continental US. Before we left, we went to Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville for a bite to eat. The bite to eat turned into the worlds largest nachos, the Volcano Nachos, and a some fruity drinks. No Buffet sightings...maybe next time?

On our way home we stopped by Lazy Days for a light dinner, drinks and key lime pie to go. The next morning we had breakfast by the pool and then it was time to head back to the frozen tundra. It was a wonderful trip and I can't wait to visit again...one of these days!

If you're wondering how Isabelle fared, well she had a lot of fun with my parents. They took her to the Jelly Belly factory, to a civil war museum, the outlet mall, toy store and she had lots and lots of play time!


WHERE TO STAY

La Siesta Hotel and Marina
80241 Overseas Highway
Mile Marker 80.2 Oceanside
Islamorada, Florida Keys 33036
305-664-2132 | 877-278-0369
http://lasiestaresort.com/


WHERE TO EAT

Mrs. Mac's Kitchen 
99336 Overseas Hwy.
MM 99.4 South US HYW. 1
Key Largo, FL 33037
305-451-3722
www.mrsmacskitchen.com

Lazy Days
79867 Overseas Highway
Mile Marker 79.9 Oceanside
Islamorada, FL 33036
305-664-5256
www.lazydaysresturant.com

Shula Burger
84001 Overseas Highway
Mile Marker 84.5
Islamoradoa, FL 33036
305-664-5300
www.shulaburger.com/

Morada Bay Beach Cafe
81600 Overseas Highway
Mile Marker 81.6, Bayside
Islamorada, FL 33036
305-664-0604
www.moradabay-restaurant.com

Boondocks
Mile Marker 27 ½
Ramrod, Florida
305-872-4094
www.boondocksus.com

Sunset in the Florida Keys

BEER. It's what's for dinner.

Today I finally had a chance to make the De Halve Maan Beer Soup and it turned out even better than I expected.  It's a savory soup, chock-full of vegetables and the Bruges Zot blond beer really shines. I'm being modest, I know, but even Tom said it was a ten. Did I mention our house smelled amazing? The recipe is down below and my notes are in brackets. I will definitely make this again.

Here's how I got the recipe, still can't believe it! Thanks again De Halve Maan Brewery!

Recipe for De Halve Mann Beer Soup

Ingredients:

2 leeks, 5 carrots, 1 stick of celery, 2 onions, parsley (finely chopped) [I used 1/3 cup]

Butter [2 T], pepper, salt [to taste]

1 liter Vegetable stock [about 4 1/2 cups]

1 slice of boiled ham, chopped

1 slice of mature cheese, chopped [I used Gouda, recommended by my French sister-in-law]

1 bottle of Brugse Zot blond [Binny's in Chicago sells it]

A dash of cream

Prepare:

Brown the chopped vegetables in butter, add the vegetable stock and leave to simmer. Add pepper and salt and the beer. [I added the pepper, salt and beer with everything else.  Brought to a boil and then let simmer for a half hour.]

Serve the soup, add per bowl a spoon full of cheese and ham, serve with a dash of cream and parsley.

Enjoy [Enjoy we did!]

Brugse Zot blond

Pricey - $18.99 for a 4-pack at Binny's.

 

Lots of veggies!

Adding the special ingredient.

The finished product.

"Happy New Year!" - Frosty the Snowman, 1969

Happy New Year!  Time does fly by, but I'm learning to stop and enjoy the moments.  2012 brought a lot of memorable moments and of course many involved traveling. We made road trips to see family in Michigan and Iowa.  We survived our trip to Europe and looking back I'm so glad we did it before Isabelle started walking.  Our little girl likes to run free these days.  We went camping in Door County - an Emmons family first, and we'll make sure it's not the last.  Tom and I even made a kid-free trip to Ohio for a friends' wedding.

I can't wait to see what 2013 brings!

Relaxing in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany
May 2012

Sometimes all you have to do is ask...

My sister-in-law was in Europe a few weeks ago and during her trip she went to De Halve Maan Brewery in Bruges, Belgium to sample their delicious beer and amazing beer soup.  I've been to Bruges a few times and I didn't try the beer soup until this year.  Boy did I miss out, because it is one of the best soups I've ever had.  Hearing about it again made me want some, so I decided to search for a similar recipe. No luck.  Everything I found was more of a stew.  So on a whim, I decided to email the brewery and guess what...they sent me the recipe!  No joke!  I'm busy with holiday baking, so I haven't had a chance to make it, but when I do I'll let you know how it turns out. 

At De Halve Maan Brewery waiting patiently for our soup

Gobble, Gobble

Sometimes it seems like Thanksgiving is all about stuffing the turkey (and yourself), while planning your Black Friday shopping list. More importantly, it’s the time to be thankful for all the blessings in your life. So, here’s what I’m thankful for…

A wonderful husband who is an adventurous travel partner

A beautiful, smarty pants daughter who loves to explore

A wonderful expanding family full of parents, sisters, in-laws, my grandma and tons of nieces and nephews

Great friends – old and new

And of course, the opportunity to travel!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Let's bowl, let's bowl, let's rock-'n-roll

Our tour of the Midwest continued last weekend with a trip to my home state of Iowa. We packed in a lot of snuggle time with our new nephew, ate a ton of birthday cake (Happy Birthday Mom and Dad!) and on Saturday afternoon we went bowling with the whole family at The Hotel Blackhawk* in Davenport.

The hotel first opened in 1915 and for a long time it was the hip, happening place to be. Cary Grant was even staying there when he died in 1986. As the years wore on the hotel fell into disrepair, but after a fire in 2006 the hotel was sold and renovated. It reopened in 2010 and now it feels like the jewel of downtown Davenport.

The Blackhawk Bowl and Martini Lounge is located on the lower level of the hotel and it definitely has a lounge feel to it with the lights changing colors, music thumping (but not too loud), and sleek furniture. In the main area there is a large bar and six lanes with big screen TVs at the end of each lane. There is also a private VIP area with two lanes.

The bowling alley is surprisingly family friendly. There was a child’s birthday party going on while we were there and the kids all seemed like they were having a blast. There is also a ton of room by the lanes and plenty of seating. Isabelle was on her best behavior and sat on the sofa perfecting her high five while we bowled. I don’t think it gets much better for a 16-month-old who loves balls!

If you go:

Blackhawk Bowl and Martini Lounge
200 E. 3rd Street (lower level of The Hotel Blackhawk)
Davenport, IA 52801
563.484.5908
www.blackhawkbowl.com

Price Range: $35-$45 per hour/lane – reservation required
Great For: Birthday Parties, Fun Day/Night Out, Date Night

*The Hotel Blackhawk was previously called The Blackhawk Hotel and I’m scratching my head as to why they changed the name. 

Just a spectator...this time!

Michelle and Janell rocking their NON rental bowling shoes.

Wining and Dining on High Street

Last weekend Tom and I were in Columbus, Ohio for a wedding (congrats again Ann and Nick!). We flew in Friday night and stayed at The Blackwell, owned by The Ohio State University and located right on campus. We lucked out with a deluxe room on the executive floor – free breakfast, refreshments and afternoon snacks, plus excellent views of the stadium. After settling in, we ventured into the cool, cloudy night to find a place to wine and dine. It started to drizzle moments into our walk and that drizzle soon turned into a downpour as we went by BW3, Dominos Pizza and countless college bars. After turning around to buy umbrellas at CVS, we ventured on with the help of Yelp. We walked away from campus, down High Street and checked out a Mexican place, a sushi place, an Indian place that advertised $1 shots, and finally we came to Alana’s Food and Wine. This restaurant is located in a large old house with a wide front porch and loads of character. Because we walked in off of High Street, we had to wind our way through the restaurant to find the hostess stand, which is situated in the back, by the parking lot and bar area.

We didn’t have a reservation, but they had an open table for two, so we were seated immediately. There was the requisite candle on the table, tablecloth and unique artwork all around. The artwork was very bright and colorful. Not modern, not traditional…more like folk art and it was all for sale.

Our waiter was very friendly and answered all of our questions about the menu, which is seasonal and changes daily. We ordered a bottle of Cotes du Rhone that was delicious and very reasonably priced. The waiter brought out artisanal bread and olive oil infused with herbs. The bread “bowl” was made from denim and I might have to try to make one. What a great way to use an old pair of jeans!

For the appetizer we ordered the $7 Surprise (there was also a $10 version). They wouldn’t tell us a single thing about it and when it came to our table we were pleasantly surprised. In fact, I think it was the highlight of our meal! It was a version of corn beef hash, but the chef used short rib meat, with spaghetti squash, in this sweet sauce with an egg on top. IT WAS AMAZING!!!

For our entrees Tom was going to order the Meat Surprise, but they ran out - a testament to the popularity of their surprise dishes. Instead he ordered the Vegetarian Surprise which turned out to be a version of succotash with lots of beans, greens and tofu. Tom’s entree was good, but I ordered the brussels sprout risotto and it was better. The chef visits the local market daily, so the brussel sprouts were the best of the best. I would definitely order it again!

We skipped dessert and after two hours of wining and dining, Tom and I left dry, happy and full!


If you go:

Alana’s Food & Wine
2333 North High Street
Columbus, OH 43202
614-294-6783
http://alanas.com/

Price Range: $30-$60 per person
Great For: Foodies, Special Occasion, Intimate Dinner

We didn't get a photo from our Friday night out, but
here is one from the next night.  Fun in Ohio!

Visions of Pink Elephants

Tom’s brother and sister-in-law live just outside of Brussels and it’s a great excuse to visit Europe…like we need one. During our 2009 trip we spent a day in Brussels where chocolate, waffles and beer were freely consumed. One of our last stops was the Delirium Café, home to over 2,004 beers. While we didn't have any actual Delirium beer (we can get that at home), we did enjoy a nice variety of unique beers. Each one was served at the right temperature and in the proper glass - perfection! If you love beer like we do, especially Belgium beer, add the Delirium Café to your travel list.

Is this heaven? No, it's Belgium!

Certified!

I wanted to take a tray home.

Matching glass - love that!