Salt of the Earth in Fennville

Since the Divas' last review was in Muskegon (Hennessy's Irish Pub) - the upper end of our geographic reviewing region - we decided to head south in May.  At Nancy's daughter's (Sarah's) suggestion, we chose Salt of the Earth in Fennville.

Neither Kelle nor Nancy had been there before.  In fact, neither recalled ever having been in Fennville before!  "I know there's a game area near Fennville," commented Nancy.  "But, that's about all I know.  Since I'm not a hunter (and with apologies to Fennville readers), I've never really had a reason to go to Fennville."

But now we do!  And that reason is Salt of the Earth.

We decided on Friday, May 1, for our Fennville dining adventure, with a stop on the way in Saugatuck.  Kelle wanted to pick up a few things at The Butler's Pantry in Saugatuck (she recommends the Delicae Pantry Slow Cooker Dinner) which itself is worth a trip to Saugatuck!

From Saugatuck, Fennville is about a 15-minute drive. Although Google Maps will direct you to take US-31 to the Blue Star Highway, we chose to follow Old Allegan Road to 58th Street to MI-89.  What a lovely drive as Old Allegan Road winds its way through the gorgeous countryside and woodsy areas!

We arrived at Salt of the Earth at 6:00 p.m. and were seated immediately (although we did notice that it fills up quickly).  We had two Guest Diva's for the evening - Karen Cordes, a Houston-based friend of Kelle's, and Nancy's daughter, Sarah.  Karen was in Michigan visiting family, so Kelle made sure to steal her away for a dining review.  They entertained everyone by sharing a few good memories stemming back over 20 some years.  

Salt of the Earth is renowned for its homemade breads, and fresh farm-to-market preparations. All were wonderful! Although with a full house of diners, we found the service a little on the slow side. Even so, we wouldn't hesitate going back.  

Kelle Lynn & Karen Cordes

Nancy & Sarah Levenburg

Baked Gruyere (served on rustic French bread with a sweet onion jam) $11

"We loved it!"

Braised Pork Shoulder $24

Kelle:  "The pork was so moist and tender and served on top of creamy mashed potatoes.  I would go back and get this delightful dish again and again.  I think everyone secretly wished they ordered my entree after they had a bite!  

Before we left the manager stopped by our table and asked if we enjoyed our dinner.  He explained how the local farmers sit down to a meal and say how surprised they are  to see what the chef has done with their produce!" 

Pan Seared Sea Scallops  $31

Karen:  "As soon as I walked in the door, I was taken by the warm and rustic ambiance and felt right at home.  Once we sat down, I opened up a large cloth tea napkin and loved it!  I wish more restaurants used napkins of this size.  From the appetizer to the dessert, I thoroughly enjoyed everything!"

  

Nancy:  "Since Sarah had raved about the Grilled Hanger Steak at $24, I decided to try it.  It's served with potato gratin, an intriguing compliment made with layered potatoes, celery verde (green celery) and celery root.  It's also served with your choice of a side dish; I chose the "Farmer's Greens," a mix of lettuce, shaved onion, romano cheese, and a balsamic parmesan dressing.  The hanger steak was grilled to perfection... and mouthwateringly moist."

Baby Blue Wood Fired Pizza $14.5

Sarah:  "Thin crust with Bleu cheese and honey drizzled on the crust. Yummy! No red sauce, much to my surprise. 

In addition, I really enjoyed our dessert... the s'more. It was a buttery graham cracker crust with gooey marshmallow and chocolate. HUGE!!! 

Had a blast. We had a reservation so there was no real wait. Great atmosphere and easy going waitstaff. The wait in food however was a different story.... Very long time lapse in between ordering drinks to placing dinner order. Overall, I would definitely go back for the farm to table cuisine."      

Wood Fire Toasted S'more $4
Homemade marshmallow, graham cracker crumb, milk chocolate pudding, salted caramel

Salt of the Earth

114 East Main Street

Fennville, MI  49408

www.saltoftheearthfennville.com

The Divas want it to be noted, with all due respect, that the views and opinions shared in this venue do not represent those of the Grand Haven Tribune and are entirely based on each individual experience we encounter.  Perhaps on any other occasion, they may differ.  Our dining experience is entirely at our own expense and not covered by the Grand Haven Tribune or any dining establishment.  

Hennessy's Irish Pub & Restaurant

We decided on Hennessy's Irish Pub in downtown Muskegon for our April review since Kelle always talks about her favorite Boxty and the desserts (even though she claims not to be a big "dessert person").  It just so happens that her neighbor, Terry Hennessy, is the sister of the owner, Mike, and we wouldn't dare sneak in there without her. Needless to say, Terry was delighted to join us.  

So, while only three of us (Kelle, Nancy and Terry) went on our Irish adventure, in retrospect, we ordered enough food to feed at least six people!  We decided to splurge on two appetizers: (1) the Artichoke & Spinach Dip, which is Hennessy’s blend of artichokes, spinach, parmesan cheese, and cream cheese, topped with scallions and diced tomato, and is served with pita chips and homemade crostinis; and (2) Onion Straws (hand dipped crispy ranch-style onion straws with chipotle ranch sauce).  Both were super yummy!  And since Kelle had raved so much about Hennessy’s Boxties, we ordered one “mini” Spinach and Portabello Boxty.  About the size of a well-stuffed taco, it was a real deal at only $2.00.

What's fun is that you can order off the regular menu as well as a Chef's Feature Menu, which highlights entrees and desserts created by Culinary Institute of Michigan (CIM) students and the chefs. They even place the name of the chef/student on the menu next to the entree they created. The Feature Menu changes with new culinary creations every two months.  Not only is the food delicious, but the prices are very reasonable.  

We couldn't help but notice a showcase full of various awards, which includes Best Restaurant and Best Appetizer. The staff is by far some of the friendliest people with the way everyone greets you on the way in and says goodbye on the way out.  We didn't stick around to listen to the live music, but imagine it could be a lot of fun to check out on the weekends.  

Terry shared some stories about Mike and Hennessy’s… "I can't help but brag about Mike since he's a great guy.  I'm so glad he is realizing one of his dreams and enjoys doing it at the same time.  It is MY favorite place to eat!"   

Hennessy’s is also open for breakfast on Saturdays and Sundays, starting at 8:00 a.m.

This is one of a whole showcase full of awards.  

Appetizer:  Onion Straws with chipotle ranch sauce $5.99

Appetizer:  Artichoke & Spinach Dip served with pita chips and homemade crostinis - $6.99

A mini Spinach and Portabello Boxty - $2.00

Orange Bigarade Chicken - Sauteed chicken with onions and peppers, dressed in a delightful savory orange creme sauce with farfalle pasta and parmesan cheese.  $11.99

Terry:  "I eat at Hennessy's a lot, but this time I decided to order a dish I've never had before from the regular menu.  The orange bigarade denotes the seville orange, which is a little more bitter than most oranges, but the cream sauce sweetens it.  The three orange segements on top were a perfect blend.  There was plenty to take home and enjoy the next day too." 

Shepherd's Pie - $9.99
A savory blend of ground and chipped lamb, carrots, onions and peas.  Topped with a generous portion of garlic mashed potatoes, broiled to a golden brown and served with freshly baked Irish Soda bread and a house salad.  

Nancy:  "I ordered the Shepherd’s Pie (“when in Ireland, do as the Irish”), which was excellent.  Plus, after all the appetizers (and wanting to “save room for dessert”), I had enough left over for lunch the next day."

Chef Feature Menu Item   Mushroom Infused Chicken $9.99
by Bailey G. - CIM Student

Sauteed chicken breast stuffed with feta, mushrooms and spinach topped with a velvety mushroom poulet sauce.  Served with quinoa salad with red pepper and scallions.  

Kelle:  "I went to Hennessy's planning on an Irish Boxty, but after looking at the Chef Feature Menu I decided to try something new and different.  This entree did not disappoint and I'd gladly get it again.  It's fun going to Hennessy's just knowing there is a lot of creativity going on in the kitchen."  

Stout Peanut Butter Lava Cake $3.99
by Nathan L. - Culinary Apprentice
Chocolate cake with a warm peanut butter and chocolate ganache center.  Served with Irish honey liquor, caramel, peanut butter cream sauce.  

"Simply Irresistible"


Hennessy's Irish Pub & Restaurant
885 Jefferson Street
Muskegon, MI  49440
231.728.3333
Reservations:  Yes
Price:  $$

The Divas want it to be noted, with all due respect, that the views and opinions shared in this venue do not represent those of the Grand Haven Tribune and are entirely based on each individual experience we encounter.  Perhaps on any other occasion, they may differ.  Our dining experience is entirely at our own expense and not covered by the Grand Haven Tribune or any dining establishment.  

Dining Divas Dish at Cote la Mer in Spring Lake!

"Party on!" said the Divas in response to a reader's recent question, "Instead of going out to a restaurant, why don't the Divas share some of their own unique recipes... ?"  We thought that sounded like a fun idea, so we honed in on a date and commenced with party planning.

Who to invite?  As guests, we decided to invite women who'd joined us for a past review... people like Joan Grillo (Ottawa County's Victim's Rights Coordinator), Char Morse (Chef Char of WZZM TV13 & Taste of Home), Cari Draft (Eco Trek Fitness), Heidi Sunderhaft Christiansen (Principal, North Muskegon Middle & High School), and Suzanne Scholl (Purple Rose Boutique). And we invited everyone to bring a guest.  It was our way of reconnecting with old friends (saying "thank you" to them), and meeting some new and interesting women, too. 

Kelle created our emailed invitations using Punchbowl.  We asked everyone to bring their own unique dish to pass. Although Kelle (in particular) fretted in advance about whether we'd end up with a well-balanced assortment of foods, Nancy kept reassuring her, "Potlucks ALWAYS work out." And, indeed, it did!

We held our party at the Cote la Mer clubhouse, a cozy setting along the shores - and with a gorgeous view - of Spring Lake.  And, fortunately, the weather cooperated (no huge snowfall)!

What's a party without shrimp?  (And with the SuperBowl looming, we even found shrimp on sale in the grocery stores!)  So, the party included everything from our giant bowl of shrimp (with traditional cocktail and Remoulade sauces), to Bari's Crab-Guacamole Dip, to Joan's Italian Beef sandwiches, to Cari's Tuscan Kale Salad (we just knew she'd bring something healthy!), to Kelle's Gluten-Free Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips and Cinnamon Chips.  Among our desserts was JoAnn Chittick's (owner of JoC Boutique in Spring Lake) magical meringue "Cloud" dessert and Wendi Archer of Two Tony's Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cheesecake. Yummy!

By the end of the evening, the biggest and most frequently asked question - obviously the evidence of a great time - was, "So, when's the NEXT party?"  We agree... we'll have to do it again when the weather's warmer. So stay tuned for an outdoor summertime barbecue...

A few dazzling Diva Dishes!

Dining Diva hosts Nancy Levenburg & Kelle Lynn doing last minute prep!

Joan Grillo is so thoughtful and arrived early to help us get set up for our event.  Her slow cooker Italian Beef sandwiches were awesome.  So is she!

Dining Diva host, Bari Johnson, uses her wine opener to get the party started.  Cari Draft pours the first glass of Neal Cabernet Sav.  

The Divas and the guests are most grateful to Scott Pranger (Kelle Lynn's brother) for these gifts from his wine cellar!

Holly Johnson with Grand Haven Area Community Foundation brought her incredibly tasty Olive Onion Crostini!  Oh my!  You can't have just one!  

  

Joann Chittick of JoC Boutique in Spring Lake brought her divine Cloud dessert.  Loved every bite!  There was one small piece left to take home to her husband.  Make it again next time, please!  

In our opinion, Sharon Burnside's Quinoa Salad was simply an "award winning" creation.  We loved it!  Sharon's pretty cool too.  Absolutely must have recipe!

Wendi Archer is the pastry chef at Two Tonys Taverna Grille in Spring Lake and made the most amazing Chocolate-Peanut Butter cheesecake.   Melts in your mouth delicious!  She makes a "to die for" carrot cake too. 

Chef Char Morse with WZZM 13 & Taste of Home loves fresh produce and made this scrumptious layered salad.   A masterpiece!  Chef Char rocks!  

This Artichoke Dip by Heidi Sunderhaft Christiansen, Principal of North Muskegon Middle and High School, was truly a delight.  Just like Heidi!

Cari Draft of EcoTrek Fitness brought a combination of healthy and yummy in her Tuscan Kale Salad.  She will make a kale believer out of you with this recipe!

The lovely Patty Christopher of Patricia's Chocolates graced us with her beautiful display of chocolate!  We love chocolate!  

Ellen Vonesh, owner of Desserts by Design and Consider it Done, and Holly Johnson.  

MaryAnn, Suzanne Scholl, and Joann Chittick

Chef Char brought her "bestie" Dani from Grand Rapids!  Bring Dani next time too!   

Kelle Lynn, Renee Molyneux, Sharon Burnside, Cari Draft, Heidi Sunderhaft Christiansen.  Girls just wanna have fun!  

Nancy Levenburg, Joan Grillo, Wendi Archer.  More fun!




For more photos of our evening and recipes for these and more amazing dishes, be sure to like and follow our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/westmichdiningdivas

Everyday People Cafe in Douglas on a Sunday afternoon!

Everyday People Cafe in Douglas

We'd heard so much about the Everyday People Cafe in Douglas that we decided to try it out one fine, non-snowy day in December.  You note that we said "day," because the Divas decided on a 1:30 pm Sunday lunch/brunch adventure.  Most of the rave reviews about Everyday People stemmed from its dinner menu.  We noticed on the website that the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, and Grand Rapids Magazine had a few nice things to say.  Carla is the only one in our group that has been there for dinner and she said it's an amazing gourmet experience.  We understand they don't take reservations and there may be a wait, which is why we opted for brunch, followed by a little Christmas shopping in Douglas & Saugatuck.  

We decided to partake in the Bloody Mary Bar ($5), where you can (after your server delivers a tall glass filled with ice and a shot of vodka - or tequila! - and a skewer) mix your own Bloody Mary. Everyday People Cafe creates its own tomato-based Bloody Mary mix.  But you can customize it with your choice of a splash of dill juice or Worcestershire sauce, an array of hot sauces, fresh limes, etc.  For garnishes, you can choose from a generous assortment of cheeses, olives, pickles, salami, shrimp, and the traditional celery stick.  Yummy!   Note - two of the Divas had a Virgin Mary which is the same price.  We were a little surprised, but the delicious assortment makes it worthwhile.

We also noticed (but didn't try it... one Bloody Mary was enough!) that EPC offers "Bubbles & Bites" on Saturdays and Sundays, which features a "bottomless glass of bubbles" along with a selection from the lunch/brunch menu for $20.  

Everyday People Cafe in Douglas is about a 40-minute drive south from downtown Grand Haven.  

Nancy Levenburg, Carla Hill, and Bari Johnson at the Bloody Mary Bar!

Nice big chunks of various cheeses and sausage, plus shrimp, and olives are a nice addition! $5

          

Breakfast Tacos - scrambled eggs with pico de gallo, chorizo, corn tortilla, creme fraiche. $12

Kelle:  "Even though I already had a nice breakfast out with family around 8:30 am, I couldn't resist a second breakfast once our waiter mentioned the tacos were on special!  I've never had tacos presented this nice and certainly enjoyed every bite.  I could only eat half and had the rest the next day.  I had a Virgin Mary and loved the assortment of snacks.  That was a fun way to start our meal.  The service was very slow, but we noticed our waiter was working the bar area in addition to the floor.  This was my first time at EPC and can hardly wait to go there for dinner now."      

EPC Scramble - three egg scamble with onion, red bell pepper, house made local bacon, topped with smoked jack cheese.  $9

Bari:  "My choice was good and I enjoyed it (even though I rarely eat potatoes!).  I was surprised at the way the eggs were prepared... scrambled and grilled in some way.  It was tasty, however, I probably wouldn't order it again.  Also, I was surprised we didn't get, nor were we offered any bread (not that I needed or wanted any).  My favorite was the Bloody Mary bar filled with yummy goodies.  Of course, I overfilled my glass, making a bit of a mess at the table.  Oh, my Bloody Mary was really a Tequila Maria since it was made with tequila instead of vodka.  On another note, our service was okay, but not great since they may have been understaffed.  As always, the company made our dining experience fun!"  

Mussels Dijon - Prince Edward Island mussles, garlic, shallot, Dijon mustard, white wine, teardrop tomatoes, basil & garlic bread.  $10

Carla:  "I've always enjoyed dinner at Everyday People Cafe and trying the Bubbles & Brunch on Sunday sounded like fun.  They have a great Bloody Mary Bar and I opted for a virgin version and added shrimp, some cheeses, and pickle spears.  Loved their homemade mix... spicy, but not too hot.  For my lunch entree, I ordered Mussels Dijon and got a very large bowl of mussels in a Dijon and white wine broth, and some French bread for dipping.  The mussels were on the small side, but there were a lot of them.  The broth was nice at first, but the mustard became a bit too aggressive as I worked my way through the pile of mussels.  All in all, I wasn't thrilled with my dish and am sorry we didn't opt for dinner.  Next time!"  


Nancy:  "I ordered the Local Shaved Beef Sandwich Au Jus ($10), which is served with Michigan smoked jack cheese and caramelized onion jam on a toasted ciabatta roll.  A small portion (about 10 fries) can be added for an additional $2.00.  The onion jam was what really made this sandwich." 

(Sorry, we goofed on the photo!)

  

Window shopping downtown Douglas

Carla and Kelle enjoyed a nice cappuccino and a mocha coffee at the Uncommon Grounds in Saugatuck after shopping!

Happy Holidays from the Lakeshore Dining Divas!

Everyday People Cafe

11 Center Street

Douglas, MI

269.857.4240

everydaypeoplecafe.com

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The Divas want it to be noted, with all due respect, that the views and opinions shared in this venue do not represent those of the Grand Haven Tribune and are entirely based on each individual experience we encounter.  Perhaps on any other occasion, they may differ.

"Award Winning" Hearthstone Bistro in Muskegon

According to one of the Dining Divas, "I don't think I know anyone who's ever been disappointed with Hearthstone... it's just always good."  So, it should come as no surprise that TripAdvisor lists The Hearthstone as the #1-ranked restaurant in Muskegon of 188 restaurants!

The Divas decided to visit The Hearthstone on Saturday night, November 15th.  Readers who are hunters obviously recognize that date; it's the opening day of deer season.  So despite the allure of trudging through snow in Michigan's northern deep woods, every seat in the house was filled.

The Hearthstone was founded by Frank and Gina Lister in 1975, and features a casual European Bistro with a cuisine that uses fresh, local, natural ingredients.  In addition to the relaxed, indoor dining room, Hearthstone offers a lush European-inspired garden terrace for outdoor dining in the summer.  It also features a gluten-free menu and vegetarian selections.  

Our table for four was waiting for us when we arrived at 6:30 pm.  Alexis, our (delightful!) server greeted us and took our drink orders promptly... one chardonnay, one zinfandel, one cabernet sauvignon, and one sparkling water (with lemon and lime).  

Complimentary sampling of three soups... Chorizo Chili - Wisconsin Cheddar - Butternut Squash Bisque

"So tasty, we would gladly come back for a cup or bowl."

Crispy Flatbread with Fontina cheese & Roasted Wild Mushrooms $10

"We each had one slice of this divine appetizer!  Bari & Kelle said they could have easily made a dinner out of this since it was so delicious."

"Parmesan Bread so good we all gave Alexis the nod when she asked if we wanted a second basket!"

Housemade "White" Lasagna with Roasted Chicken & Spinach $19

Carla:  "I was so happy to see the return of the White Lasagna!  I enjoyed it a year ago when it was on the menu and wanted to go back the same week and have it again.  Oh, wait, I did!  If you dine there soon and it's on the menu, order it.  You will not be disappointed.  I loved it so much that I purposely took half home to savor the next night.  That was an incredible achievement for me considering how tasty it was."

Classic Steak Frites with Roasted Garlic Butter - 8 oz tenderloin steak, served with pommes frites (skinny French fries) and creamed spinach.  $24

Nancy:  "The steak was melt-in-your-mouth good, and the creamed spinach was luscious."   

"Award Winning" Crispy Almond & Brioche Yellow Belly Lake Perch, served with pommes frites and housemade coleslaw.  $18 for 5-piece plate, $24 for 7-piece plate.

Bari:  "I had a mental debate about the entrees; there are so many tempting choices.  Settling on the perch (5-pieces), I was not disappointed.  The crispy almond brioche complimented as did the tartar sauce.  The pommes frites were just right for me:  crispy not over or underdone.  The coleslaw was okay, but I enjoyed the perch and pommes frites more.  The evening was delightful and I look forward to a return visit sooner rather than later."   

Fresh "Off the Boat" Pan Seared Jumbo Sea Scallops with Orange Ginger Beurre Blanc $30

Kelle:  "On the menu the scallops are offered on a bed of Israeli couscous and red quinoa, but I opted for the yukon gold mashed potatoes since I just made red quinoa at home the night before.  Either way, the scallops were out of this world delicious!  I love dining at the Hearthstone!"   

Salted Caramel Torte
(Locally made in Hudsonville)
flourless caramel torte (gluten free) * creamy caramel mousse with chocolate ganache $7

"Yes, we devoured the whole thing!"




Diva Tips:

If you're hoping to dine on a weekend night, make reservations well in advance.

The "Crispy Goat Cheese 'Fritter' with Roasted Beets" on Hearthstone's Specialty Salads menu sounds terribly tempting.  Served with grilled asparagus, toasted pine nuts and a balsamic vinaigrette, beet-lovers Kelle and Nancy decided they'd have to return to order it for lunch.

The Hearthstone features two-fer dining specials (2 for $24) on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights.  Monday is Two Moo Monday (two Bistro steaks, pommes frites and a side salad), Tuesday is Two Perch Tuesday, and Wednesday is Pasta/Pasta. 


Hearthstone 
3350 Glade Street
Muskegon, MI
231.733.1056
www.hearthstonerestaurant.com



Follow us on Facebook:  www.westmichdiningdivas




The Divas want it to be noted, with all due respect, that the views and opinions shared in this venue do not represent those of the Grand Haven Tribune and are entirely based on each individual experience we encounter.  Perhaps on any other occasion, they may differ.