The London Grill

This past weekend Aimee and I went to one of my favorite Kalamazoo restaurants with our good friends P and J. We decided to go downtown and have dinner and drinks at The London Grill.

If you have never been there, we highly recommend it. Their unique menu brings you the flavors brought home from patriots returning from years of service in the British Empire. Their quality food is noticeably fresh and cooked right on a grill in sight of most of the diners. Their food is also complemented with British ales, ports and scotches. There are two locations, one in downtown Kalamazoo and one in Plainwell.

Papadum

When you first sit down you are brought out a plate of papadum with tomato chutney. In case you have never tried them, papadum is a thin and crispy Indian side dish which can be best described as a cracker of flatbread. Paired with the sweetness of the chutney makes for a tasty combination that is a perfect appetizer that is light and does not fill you up.

On the chalkboard you can find The London Grill specials of the day. I debated about ordering one of the delicious sounding specials, but instead opted for my favorite dish on their menu, the sautéed cod. Aimee and J ordered the whitefish Grenoble and P ordered the curried potatoes and peas. For drink, Aimee ordered a vodka and soda, J a glass of white wine, P a two hearted ale (one of my favorites), and I ordered the Boddingtons Pub Ale on draft.

Whitefish Grenoble

The food was amazing. Aimee and J’s whitefish Grenoble was perfectly cooked. It is a pan-seared Lake Superior whitefish coated with seasoned flour. It is garnished with lemon, tomatoes and capers and served with grilled veggies and jasmine rice. The fish was expertly seasoned and the grilled veggies with the rice made for a perfect dish.

P’s Indian dish was very good too. The thing about The London Grill is that it just may have the best Indian food in town even though their Indian menu is limited. The seasoning was excellent and P was very happy he ordered the special.

sautéed cod

My sautéed cod was amazing. The dish is two Atlantic cod fillets that are pan sautéed then topped with a spicy chili black bean sauce. On the side is a spicy and tangy shredded cabbage salad and rice. This cod is a dish that I could easily eat every time that I go there. When most people think cod, they think fish and chips. This is so much more, you have to try it.

The London Grill is a true gem of Kalamazoo. Everything is done right. The setting is quant yet classy. The bar reminds you of a true pub. The food has a story and the flavors are unmatched anywhere in town. I am looking forward to our next visit to The London Grill of Kalamazoo.

The London Grill
214 E Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo, MI. 49007

Old Burdicks

On Easter Sunday, Aimee and I wanted to go out to eat for dinner. The problem was which restaurants would be open. Many Kalamazoo restaurants were open for brunch, but had already closed in time for dinner. We decided to try our luck at Burdick’s figuring they would be open since there are inside the Radisson.

Aimee is a fan of Burdick’s for two reasons, first for their bloody marys, and second, their mahi mahi sandwich. I have never been a big fan of Burdick’s but decided I would give it a try again.

The restaurant was fairly crowded for a Sunday night. We looked around and noticed it was mostly college age people dining and drinking. We soon found out why.

We were sat by our hostess right in the middle of the entrance in a high traffic area. There were several empty tables nearby so we choose one that was along a wall so we would not be in the middle of everyone moving around.

Mahi Mahi Sandwich

Then we sat. And we sat, and we sat some more until we were finally greeted by a waiter. He took our drink orders and Aimee ordered her bloody mary. She loves their bloody Marys because they have their own recipe for the mix. I ordered a Bell’s Two Hearted Ale. The waiter told us that everything was half off on Sunday’s which was a pleasant surprise.

The news of the half off menu prompted me to skip the burger that I was eyeing on the menu and instead order a full rack of ribs. Aimee ordered her mahi mahi sandwich and had it prepared blackened style.
Our drinks came first. The bloody mary was really excellent; it is a perfect blend of fresh tomato flavor, heat, and spices. My Two Hearted Ale was excellent as usual.

Our meals came were served shortly after. Aimee skipped the pineapple which usually comes on the top of the sandwich and instead asked for lettuce, onion, tomato, and mayo. I have to say that she knows what she is doing because it was much better this way then with the pineapple and mango salsa which it is usually served with. For her side dish she had the mashed potatoes and gravy which were also very good

Rack of Ribs

My ribs started out pretty good. The meat was cooked well and it just fell right off the bone. Things were looking good. However, with each rib, the meat was tougher, there was more connective tissue, and it became less and less enjoyable. My side dishes were fries and slaw. The fries were pretty good; they had a bit of spice to them too. The coleslaw seemed old. It lacked the tangy flavor that I am used to and it was dry.

When our bill came, I quickly realized that the waiter meant that only the drinks were half off, not the food. This may have explained the younger crowd at Burdick’s that evening.

All in all the food was ok in my opinion. Aimee was happy with her meal, but I have certainly had much better ribs from other restaurants in Kalamazoo.

Old Burdick’s Bar and Grill
2747 South 11th Street
Kalamazoo, MI 49009-2177
(269) 372-1596

Long Branch Saloon & Eatery

Today for lunch a colleague and I decided to make the drive to Vicksburg to go to one of our favorite places for lunch. If it wasn’t so far south of my home it would probably be one of my favorite places to go for a burger and beer in the evening.

The restaurant is called the Long Branch Saloon & Eatery. When you first walk in, there are plenty of tables to choose from. To the left is a nice sized dining area with tables and booths. To the right is the bar with more tables. Further down past the bar is more seating and if you keep walking it looks like it is an area for bands and DJ’s. If you keep walking, you can go outside through a door wall to their patio which has a few tables, a heater, a fire pit, and a nice view with a small pond. I bet this place is a lot of fun at night.

The atmosphere was very country and inviting. There was country music playing on the radio. Much of the furniture looked to be hand made out of carved wood. On one wall was a collection of some of the biggest largemouth bass I have ever seen! There were also some old time decorations on the wall like an old metal Chesterfield cigarette sign and more.

Gumbo

We were taking a late lunch so there were plenty of seats for us to choose from. We both knew that we wanted burgers as we have had great success with them from the Long Branch on previous visits. I ordered a cup of the gumbo and the Blue Bayou Burger which is Cajun seasoned beef with blue cheese dressing. On the side it comes with either Long Branch fries or Long Branch sweet potato chips. I went with the sweet potato chips which are served with a side of maple syrup. While I wasn’t sure what to expect from that combo, I am pleased to say that I loved it. I swear I could eat those every day they are so good.

My colleague Kevin ordered the Long Branch White Chicken Chili (one of his favorites) and the Olive burger which comes loaded with olives and mayo.

We both loved our meals. The soups were great but the burgers take the cake. Everything about my burger was right. The bun had great texture and wasn’t too heavy. The meat was cooked perfectly and the toppings of blue cheese, onions, lettuce and tomato were fresh and crisp. Even the pickle was good.

Blue Bayou Burger

I really want to come back and try more from the menu, but it is hard to stray away from their burgers. Kevin had his eye on the St. Louis Ribs and I would like to try their walleye, their salmon, and I know their beef tenderloin steak has got to be great.

I highly recommend this place if you like a good burger and a down home atmosphere. I talked briefly with owners and they are some really nice and down to earth local folks who take pride in what they do. So if you are looking for a new place to eat, or perhaps a place to catch a game or to have a beer then the Long Branch Saloon & Eatery is definitely worth a visit.

Long Branch Saloon & Eatery
606 Spruce St.
Vicksburg, MI. 49097
(269) 649-1961

Fricano's of Alamo

Last night Aimee and I were debating about where to go for dinner. She was craving pizza, but I had pizza for lunch on Friday and was looking for something different. We made a compromise and chose an Italian restaurant that is pretty close to our home.

We decided to go to Fricano’s of Alamo. Even though Fricano’s has a Kalamazoo address, they are actually located in Alamo Township.

We arrived at about 8 PM and found the restaurant was still quite busy. We decided to sit closer to the bar because it felt a little more private as the main dining room was pretty full.

We were quickly greeted by a very friendly waitress named Kaylei. To start with, Aimee ordered a Martini and I ordered a Bell’s Amber Ale. I love Bell’s Beer and have not had an Amber Ale in a while so it sounded pretty good. We were not sure how the Martini would be because it was not on the menu.

Martini and Bell's Amber Ale

The beer was great as usual but Aimee’s martini was not as dirty as she hoped it would be so Kaylei brought out some extra olive juice. While this does fix the problem of the taste to a degree, it would have been much better if it was shaken into the drink. Aimee was not asked what kind of vodka she wanted in the martini and in hindsight we should have specified. We have a feeling that it was the cheap well vodka because the taste just wasn’t there and the drink was so inexpensive on our bill.

Caesar Salad and Bread

For our meals, Aimee ordered a mushroom and olive pizza. I was torn between the Italian sausage with peppers in a marinara sauce served over penne or my old Italian food standby: chicken fettuccine alfredo. I was torn so I asked Kaylei which one she liked more and she said that they both are very good, but she would order the fettuccine alfredo so I took her advice. Aimee ordered a side Caesar salad to go with her pizza and I also chose the Caesar salad as my side. I could have chosen two other salad styles or the minestrone soup.

Fricano's Pizza

Our salads were quite good and we were also brought out Italian bread with oil and herbs for dipping. The salad was fresh and the dressing was excellent. The Italian bread was simple, but has a nice flavor and was excellent dipped in the olive oil and herbs.

Aimee loved her pizza. Fricano’s still uses the same pizza recipe that they used when they first opened in Alamo Township back in 1979. Their pizza is excellent. It only comes as a 12” size and it has a very thin and crispy crust. The sauce, cheese and toppings were all perfect.

Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo

I also thoroughly enjoyed my meal. The pasta was excellent, the sauce was rich and creamy, and the grilled chicken was prepared perfectly. The portion was large which is great because it let me have some leftovers for lunch on Sunday.

Fricano’s may be a little out of the way for some, but it is definitely worth the trip. We like the environment. It’s the perfect family place or a great place to dine with friends. Down to the simple red and white checkered table cloths to the locals stopping in for a quick beer, Fricano’s is famous for a reason. We can’t wait to go back in the summer. The views from the table side are beautiful farm fields with plenty of deer grazing on the warm, sunny grass.

Fricano’s of Alamo
7454 North 6th Street
Kalamazoo, MI 49009
(269) 342-0808

Nina's Taqueria of Augusta

On Saturday, Aimee and I had to make another visit to our accountant in Augusta. By the time we left I was starving, so we asked the locals if they had a favorite restaurant they could recommend. They asked if we like Mexican food. It turns out that we love Mexican food. In college, I worked at the Mi Ranchito that used to be on Westnedge.

Just a couple of hundred yards down the road from our accountant’s is Nina’s Taqueria. I heard from some friends in the past that Nina’s was a very good Mexican restaurant. When you drive up from the outside the building is small with orange stucco. The same simple design carries into the inside. The seating is very casual; it is definitely no Don Pablo’s. The food makes this little place a big gem.

Chips, Salsa, and Guacamole

Nina’s Taqueria makes some delicious, authentic Mexican food. Nina’s reminded me of some of the taco stands in Southern California-nothing fancy, just good food.

To start with, our waitress brought us some of the best chips I have had in a long time. They were thick and warm, almost like crunchy pitas. The salsa was fresh and flavorful, with just the right amount of heat. Our accountant raved about the guacamole so we knew we had to order some. The guacamole was excellent. It was fresh, clean and the perfect mix of tomato, onion, and a dash of salt to bring the flavors together.

Enchiladas Verdes

For our entrees, Aimee ordered the enchiladas verdes and I ordered a combination of one taco and two enchiladas. Aimee’s enchiladas were cheese and onion and the dish came with rice, beans, and sour cream.

For my meal, I chose the steak fajita meat in the taco, one enchilada had ground beef, and one had barbacoa beef. I was happy to be able to have so many options for my fillings. All were good but the steak fajita was probably my favorite. I also ordered the verdes sauce for my enchiladas as I have always been a fan of enchiladas verdes.

The food was great. It was a nice change of pace from the Qdoba’s and national chain Mexican food that I have had lately. The prices were also very reasonable.

Enchiladas and Taco

So if you are in the Augusta area and are looking for a place to eat, we definitely recommend stopping by Nina’s Taqueria for some delicious authentic Mexican food.

Nina’s Taqueria
111 E. Michigan Ave
Augusta,  MI. 49012
(269) 731-5300

Curry Corner

This past Saturday, after doing our dreaded taxes, Jeff and I decided to try out a newly placed Indian Restaurant called The Curry Corner.  Indian is one of our favorite cuisines and we wanted to see how this small restaurant compared with its competitors-Indian Cuisine in Portage and Saffron on West Main Street.

Jeff previously visited The Curry Corner for their lunch buffet on one of his Friday lunch hours.  Then, On a separate occasion, Jeff brought home their carry out and surprised me with my favorite Indian dish of all time-Palak Paneer!   This dish consists of Indian homemade cheese with spicy creamed spinach, naturally served over simple rice.  The Palak Paneer at The Curry Corner was one of the best I have ever tasted.  Come to find out, Nira, the owner and recipe- inventor makes her Palak Paneer with mustard greens instead of spinach.  She says it gives the dish a stronger flavor.

Sambar

After tasting their carry-out, I was excited to dine in.  Nira greeted us at the door and sat us at a nice table for two.  They had several specialty drinks, but Jeff and I were content with water and tea, which were both included in the buffet price of $8.99.  The tea was a fragrant orange pekoe tea from India, steeped with hot water, and milk.  I especially took note of Nira’s high quality H20, she used in the tea, as well, as in our drinking water.  When it comes to water, I can be a bit of a snob.  I am not a fan of our well water or the city water of Kalamazoo or Portage, so filtering is key to clean cooking.  It’s all in the details.

The buffet had six courses, three of which were vegetarian.  We both started with the Sambar, which is described as a sweet and sour soup.  I normally don’t care for the combo of sweet and sour, I am more of a spicy, salty kind of girl, but the soup was just that-spicy and salty.  After the soup, I had a little bit of all three vegetarian dishes with fluffy rice with peas on the bottom.  The first dish, Dal Makhani, had lentils combined with spices.  I didn’t have seconds of this one because the others dishes were better.  The second dish was Kadhi and I was surprised to see it was made of pureed chickpeas with curry.  It was pretty spicy and had almost a lemon butter flavor that was one of a kind.  My favorite dish was the Bindi Masala, which was made from baby pumpkin.  I never would have guessed pumpkin was the main ingredient.  The sauce was super spicy and delicious.  Come to find out Nira invented that dish while sleeping one night and now it’s her husband’s favorite dish too.

Jeff's Plate

Jeff loved the vegetarian dishes, but his favorite of the meat dishes was the butter chicken. The sauce was a nice blend of cream and spice and he went back for seconds.  There was one goat dish, but Jeff opted out of trying that one.

We definitely recommend trying the Curry Corner if you like Indian Food, or even if you are just looking for something new to try. Take out is a great option to; just call ahead and pick up your order on the way home from work.  The food is made with care and love and it is really like a true Mom and Pop kitchen.

Curry Croner
7630 S Westnedge Ave
Portage, MI 49002
(269) 327-6325

ChocolaTea

If anyone knows me well, the first thing they know is how much I love tea. Tea became an obsession of mine when I was just a young girl. My mom made me “sick tea” consisting of orange pekoe tea, milk, and honey. My sister and I still joke about who’s going to inherit my great grandmother’s tea cup set. I have a strong case against her because of my love for specialty and fair-trade teas.

I first stumbled upon ChocolaTea last summer while driving to Centre St. for work. As I walked in, the clean, bitter tea leaf aroma excited my senses. My eyes were busy examining a few of the dozens of tea blends they have stacked on wooded shelves. All of ChocolaTea’s are organic and most are fair trade. I can spend an hour just deciding on which tea to go for. After purchasing about four little Ziploc bags of loose leaf teas, I knew this would be my new favorite place to spend my time and cash.

Yesterday, I showed Jeff the tea shop and he understood my fascination. After a long day of doing stressful errands like taxes, my stomach felt upset. I asked for something soothing and on the mild side and ended up with a Dragonwell green tea, with crushed ginger. Naturally, Jeff ordered their strongest blend of Costa Rican coffee. My tea did wonders for my nervous stomach and my soul. Jeff’s, on the other hand, was luke warm which is not what you want on a cold winter day.

Cosa Rican Coffee

Of course I couldn’t leave without a fair supply of loose leaf tea, so I selected my favorite type of tea, an Earl Grey; however, this blend had Lavender flowers added-perfect combination! Earl grey always has a strong, Bergamot flavor with sweet undertones. It’s wonderful infused with some steamed milk because the sugar in the milk provides a dessert flavor without the horrible sugar-brain and calories. Next on my list was a decaf orange pekoe black tea infused with flecks of real caramel. This one is also excellent with a little milk and honey, a step up from my mom’s “sick tea” recipe from my childhood. The last blend, I could not leave without; its ingredients are: flowers of chamomile, rosebuds, lavender, and spearmint. “Peaceful” was a fitting name for this combo of healing flowers. One cup after a stressful day knocks me right out. Instead of using Tylenol PM or other sleep aids, I opt for safer and healthier alternatives to sooth my soul and calm my thoughts.

Chocolates and Treats

The atmosphere at ChocolaTea is exactly as it should be-clean and cozy. There are tables with bar stools for the bloggers, or couches and ottomans for the conversationalists. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. Jeff couldn’t stop inquiring about a novelty in the bakery. They had chocolate covered bacon! Being a vegetarian, I did not go near it, and Jeff was tempted but opted to pass until next time. They did have rows of pies, cookies, cakes, and chocolates that are hard to turn down. I saw a mom with her little red-haired boy; it reminded me of a Norman Rockwell painting. They were deciding which candy to choose from and he preferred to try a new candy every visit to this store. Now that is what a candy shop should be about, once a week or so, indulging in a small, but exquisite piece of quality chocolate. I overheard that he didn’t want to try the chocolate covered potato chips this trip, instead he went for a more traditional sweet treat. The experience reminded me to cherish what we put into our bodies, like they did in the old days when tea, pies, and sweets were a special treat to enjoy with loved ones and less about the instant gratification of fulfilling an urge.

ChocolaTea
7642 S. Westnedge Avenue,
Portage, Michigan 49002
(269) 903-2447

D'Nicio's Parlour

Today Aimee and I decided to try out a restaurant that we have driven past several times and were curious about. The restaurant is D’nicio’s Parlour on West Main Street in front of Menards.

D’nicio’s is a diner type atmosphere that also has a large ice cream parlour. The set up was nice and they captured the classic American Diner décor. It is basically an American diner/ ice cream parlor that focuses on Greek food.

We walked in and immediately all of the wait staff greeted us with a friendly “Welcome to D’nicio’s!” which is refreshing. Too many restaurants do not greet their customers. Aimee and I sat in a booth for two, along the East wall.

Our waitress came to take our drink order and she also let us know that the fryer is down. Aimee ordered a coffee and I ordered an ice tea. The coffee was okay; it was what you would expect from a diner. The ice tea was a little off. It tasted like it may have been sitting for a long time or it was made from bad tea or poor quality water. I asked to have it switched out for a soda, which the waitress said would not be a problem.

Veggie Omelet

Aimee was hungry for an omelet and I knew that I wanted either the gyro or the Coney dog. Since the fryer was down and I could not order fries, I decided to try the gyro and one Coney dog with everything. Aimee ordered the veggie omelet with cheese which came with a side of hash browns and toast.

Aimee enjoyed her omelet. The portions were very large and it was filled with fresh veggies and cheese. The hash browns were a little underdone and under seasoned. With a little salt, pepper and hot sauce they at least had some flavor.

My gyro was nothing to write home about. The tzatziki sauce was a little too watery and it lacked in flavor. The gyro was stuffed with thickly cut gyro meat, tomatoes, and a lot of onions. Traditionally, I am used to the gyro meat sliced more thinly.

Gyro and Coney Dog

The Coney dog on the other hand was excellent. They specialize in Detroit styled Coney dogs. The chili was the best part of the Coney. It was beanless, but had more of a chili consistency than the Coney Island of Kalamazoo, whose Coney is more like seasoned greasy ground beef (Jackson style Coney).

The food and the atmosphere were both pretty good all in all. I do recommend that they spend more time training their wait staff though. Our waitress was friendly, but had poor etiquette. First, Aimee asked if they omelets came with a good amount of cheese to which she replied, “I hate omelets; they taste like burnt scrambled eggs.” This response of course raised a red flag, so Aimee asked if that was all omelets, or just ones from here, to which she replied, “All omelets.” We had to wonder how she does not know if they omelets had a lot of cheese, does she not look at the food she serves. After we finished eating, she came to our table and complained about how the cooks don’t speak English and how she can’t communicate with them. That’s just not something that a server should be telling her customers. Lastly, after we signed our credit card slip and put a tip on it, she came to our table and said, “I can take that up for you.” There was no reason for her to take it yet. As she walked away we could see her checking to see how big her tip was. Very unprofessional.

I do think we will give the restaurant a try again, as I would like to try more of their Greek food. Although their menu is vegetarian limited, Aimee is interested in trying their spinach pie and Greek salad. Their ice cream looks great too, so we will have to pay D’nicio’s a visit when the weather warms up, and we’re on a trip back from Lake Michigan.

D’nicio’s Parlour
6880 West Main Street
Kalamazoo, MI. 49009
(269) 353-8600

Erbelli's

This past Saturday night Aimee and were both hungry for pizza. That means one thing for us, Erbelli’s Pizza. If you have never tried Erbelli’s then you are missing out. They are hands down the best pizza in Kalamazoo.

Erbelli’s has a location in Portage, and in Kalamazoo. We prefer going to the Kalamazoo location off of Stadium because it is closer to home and it is larger and more modern. They have recently remodeled and included a large bar that is really sharp looking.

The restaurant was packed when we got there so we grabbed two seats at the bar and we were happy to see that Mike was working. Mike is a very personable bartender that makes a mean martini. As we debated which style of pizza to get, we ordered the Crazy Caesar Salad and to drink I ordered a Cabin Fever Brown Ale from New Holland Brewing Company and Aimee ordered a dirty martini.

Crazy Caesar Salad

The brown ale was a bit sweet and malty and an overall good brew. Aimee really likes the dirty Martini’s made by Mike. He topped them off with a variety of stuffed green olives. We were disappointed in the Caesar salad. The romaine lettuce was a bit too yellow, the croutons were from a bag, and the salad dressing was in packets from T. Marzetti. We feel that with the quality of food that Erbelli’s offers, they should be able to handle making their own croutons and having a salad dressing that is made in house and not served in a packet. Overall, the salad was nothing special that you could not make in a couple of minutes at home.

Erbelli's Square Pizza

For our pizza, we were torn of whether to order the pan or the square style crust. We decided to order the square because we always get the pan. Our pizza was half pepperoni and jalapenos and half mushrooms and jalapenos. As usual, the pizza was amazing. Everything about it is good. The crust is not too heavy or think and is nice and crisp. The sauce is truly one of a kind. It is the perfect blend of sweet and savory. They use just the right amount amount of cheese and only high quality toppings. You can also see and taste the flakes of parsley and oregano sprinkled over the top. We thoroughly enjoyed our pizza and luckily have enough left over for lunch on Sunday. After the meal we relaxed and talked a bit with Mike the bartender. I ordered a Bell’s Two Hearted Ale which is one of my all time favorite brews. It is a very hoppy India Pale Ale with a very floral bouquet.

Erbelli’s is really the best pizza restaurant in Kalamazoo and we try to go there at least once a month. Overall, you are safe to order everything on the menu as it is all top quality food. The only exception is the salads, which are slightly uninspiring.

Erbelli’s Gourmet Pizza
6214 Stadium Drive
Kalamazoo, MI.
269-375-0408

Global Coffee

Earlier this week, Andrea from Global Coffee visited this blog and invited Aimee and I in for a free cup of coffee. I’m definitely not one to turn down a good cup of coffee and the fact that both Aimee I drive right past the coffee shop on the way to work made the offer too good to turn down.

The free cup of coffee offer goes from 7-9 AM until the end of the month. There is a rumor that the coffee deal may be extended past that. Global Coffee is located inside of The Point which is off of 10th street between M-43 and H Ave.

Global Coffee Menu

When I first walked in I was impressed with The Point. It has a large open space that is a great place for the community to get together. After walking past a receptionist table I looked to my left and found a very nice and new little coffee shop. There are several tables with chairs in front of the coffee bar.

I really enjoyed the cup of coffee that Andrea served me. The coffee had a very good and consistent taste and was very flavorful with a clean coffee scent. Usually I prefer a very dark roast. The Guatemalan coffee that I tried was more of a medium roast which I thoroughly enjoyed.

I asked more about the coffee and I learned that the coffee beans are roasted locally in Grand Rapids. But the beans themselves are from Guatemala. I have heard of fair trade coffee before, but I had not heard of direct trade. It turns out that the Grand Rapids coffee roasters have a direct relationship with a family that grows the coffee in Central America. It’s nice to know that your money is going to a local company, and that beyond that, it is giving a small group of coffee growers a fair wage. Direct trade cuts out the traditional middleman which allows for the coffee growers to make a better income for their family.

Boxed Water

Global coffee also had some very tasty breakfast foods like scones, muffins, croissants and more. They also had my favorite bottled juice, Nantucket Nectar. Inside the beverage cooler I saw what I thought was a quart of milk. When I asked about it I was surprised to learn that it was water in a box! What a great idea. Save the plastic bottles and use easily recyclable boxed water. The water in a box is also cheaper to ship as the containers can be broken down. And to stay with our local theme, Boxed Water is also a company that is based in Grand Rapids.

I really enjoyed my coffee and conversation with Andrea from Global Coffee and I will be back. I like how they are using their space at The Point. Inside are some copy machines, and there is free Wi-Fi so that people can gather to do some work, study, or just check their Facebook status. Just outside the door is a UPS drop box which comes in handy for the people in the local neighborhoods. Also inside is a fitness area with weights, machines and cardio equipment. There is a large open area where the community is welcome to gather to play cards, have dances, or other activities. In the basement are class rooms where Financial Peace University classes are held along with other community programs. There is also a large gym where there is an open gym for basketball, local sporting events, and other athletic activities.

So if you are up for a good cup of free coffee, stop by Global Coffee and see for yourself all of the great things to do at The Point.

Global Coffee
2595 North 10th Street
Kalamazoo, Michigan 49009
269.350.5496