THE LOCAL FOOD SCENE
This week's stories
East Lansing’s Aloha Cookin’ is serving up the greatest hits of Hawaiian cuisine, a combination of Indigenous Polynesian foodways and Korean, Japanese and American influences.

Enjoy fusions of flavor at Aloha Cookin’

I’m often guilty of eating an incredible meal somewhere but failing to return for extended lengths of time due to matters of convenience or budget, even while remembering the meal often and with great longing.

Pork and beans the Brazilian way

Courtesy of Ari LeVaux
Feijoada semi-completa.
Pork and beans are an age-old combination, expressed in countless ways around the world. Southwestern pinto beans refried in lard. Asian tofu with pork sauce. The all-American can of pork and beans. Wherever there’s pork and beans, there’s pork with beans.

Make Mother’s Day extra special with homemade breakfast in bed

There may be no better way to start Mother’s Day than with breakfast in bed. Enjoying a homemade meal right after waking up can set the right tone for a day that celebrates all mothers have done and continue to do for their children.

Farm-fresh chive pancakes

I’ve been buying Chinese chives at the farmers market from a vendor named Nancy. She has many unique vegetables, like pink celery for stir-fries, delicious edamame soybeans and Dutch-style tomatoes,

Feasting on finger-lickin’ good fried fare

If you’re looking for fried food in the Lansing area, nothing beats the array of selections at Eastside Fish Fry & Grill. From chicken tenders, jalapeno poppers and onion rings to more unique offerings like alligator, frog legs and liver, this restaurant fries up just about anything you could think of.

Chicken curry, island-style

About 60 years ago, on Little Corn Island, a tiny dot in the Caribbean Sea approximately 50 miles off the coast of Nicaragua, a cook named Maritza was born to a Colombian mother and Cuban father.

The go-to spot for Mediterranean in Meridian

Bread Bites Mediterranean 5100 Marsh Road, Okemos 11:30-8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday noon-7 p.m. Sunday (517) 708-7112

Climb a mountain of nachos at the Tipsy Nickel

In late 2022, Miya Warvel, co-owner of the Wooden Nickel II in Dansville, purchased the former Darb’s Tavern & Eatery in Mason and rechristened it the Tipsy Nickel Bar & Grille,

The secret to good tofu — or as I call it, restaurant tofu

My son’s first taste of tofu was at a restaurant. He didn’t know what tofu was, or that it was coming. Having never caught wind of tofu’s bad reputation among non-Asians,

Stateside’s breakfast menu boasts a bangin’ Benny

It’s strange to discover that, in the area you’ve lived all your life, the breakfast you’ve been searching for has been waiting for you just across town.
SHE ATE / HE ATE

The Comfort Zone provides an all-around upscale experience

The Comfort Zone’s hand-cut New York strip steak is perfectly cooked to the orderer’s preference and topped with a generous amount of herby compound butter, which complements every bite, according to Gabrielle Lawrence.
600 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Lansing 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday 11 a.m.-midnight Friday Noon-midnight Saturday Noon-8 p.m. Sunday (517) 882-7500 theczlounge.com

Dine like a townie at Corey’s Lounge

Corey’s Lounge 1511 S. Cedar St., Lansing 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-midnight Friday Noon-midnight Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday (517) 482-3132 coreyslounge.com

Eating healthy is quick and easy at Fuel’d

Fuel’d 1500 W. Lake Lansing Road, East Lansing 11 a.m.-9 p.m. daily 517-220-4983 fueldfoods.com

At Veg Head, nutritious doesn’t mean flavorless

Last week, I read a bizarrely mean-spirited and pointless editorial in the Detroit Free Press, bemoaning the fact that Lansing is the capital of Michigan and generally expressing how terrible our city is. Obviously, I disagree vehemently.

Jolly Pumpkin elevates traditional dishes to new heights

With seven locations throughout the state, Jolly Pumpkin Café & Brewery has come to be celebrated for its artisanal, granite-baked pizzas, but it also offers equally enticing appetizers, salads, bowls, sandwiches and desserts.
With seven locations throughout the state, Jolly Pumpkin Café & Brewery has come to be celebrated for its artisanal, granite-baked pizzas, but it also offers equally enticing appetizers, salads, bowls, sandwiches and desserts.
More food

I’m just here for the palak paneer

Palak paneer, an Indian dish of spinach and homemade cheese, is so flavorful that it requires neither condiments nor garnishes.

I’ve been celebrating the arrival of spring with ample helpings of palak paneer, an Indian dish of spinach and homemade cheese.

Pizza perfection in Old Town

The myriad textures and flavors of The Cosmos’ Sweet BBQ Pork pizza will lift you up into the atmosphere.

There is an abundance of pizza options in the Lansing area, but there are just a handful of restaurants making wood-fired pizza, which is one of the best styles, in my opinion.

An egg in a nest for any time of day

Photo by Rosmarie Voegtli 
When making an egg in a nest, as long as there’s an egg, the nature of the nest is negotiable. A nest made of ramen noodles not only does the job but looks the part.

Most of us have had the standard breakfast version of egg in a nest, where a piece of bread represents the nest.

The ultimate protein drink

If we needed more evidence that American society is in decline, consider how little respect we give lentils.

Pad Thai, mangoes, sticky rice and everything nice

Eato Chef’s pad Thai primes the palate for a dessert of mangoes and sticky rice.

When my uncle traveled abroad to serve in the Peace Corps during the ‘90s, he met a Thai woman who generously taught her language to the Americans.

It’s a potato. It’s a thing. It’s Potato Thing!

Potato Thing only improves with the addition of cheese, an egg or other proteins.

This potato thing sizzled into my life when my 6-year-old decided to cook a potato.

El Azteco’s topopo salad still reigns supreme

El Azteco East’s massive topopo salad, served on a bed of what is essentially nachos, is a must-try for those who are unfamiliar.

If you’re a longtime resident of the area, especially if you grew up here like me, you probably already know all about topopo salad and are tired of hearing about it. However, for those of you who are new to the area or for whom those words ring nary a bell, hear me out.

Don’t Wait for Migas

Leftover tortilla chips need not go to waste.

Migas are a delicacy as old as tortillas. The word is Spanish for “crumbs” — specifically the crumbs of tortillas of a certain age.  North of the border, the tortilla fragments are usually served with salsa, beans and sour cream.

Binging on beef at Bobcat Bonnie’s

My boyfriend and I frequently travel around the state for concerts, and every time I tell my mom we’re going to Ferndale, Grand Rapids or Kalamazoo, she excitedly suggests we should stop at Bobcat Bonnie’s for its array of options that suit both of our diets.

Whole lemon cookery

Ari LeVaux says his blended-lemon chicken will “inspire expletives of joy as the glorious cubes of chicken explode nonviolently in your mouth.”

Using a lemon only for its juice is a big waste. The whole fruit is edible, including the nutritious pith and the pulp, rich in fiber. Lemon zest is worth its weight in gold, and when I think about how much zest gets tossed,

The trials and tribulations of chicken husbandry

Scrambled eggs and baguette a la Secondo in “Big Night.”

I’ve raised a lot of chickens. Probably hundreds. For eggs, not meat. I give them the best lives I can, including a generous retirement plan when they reach a certain age, with free room and board, yet they rarely arrive at those emerald pastures. Precious few have lived long enough to die in their sleep. I blame myself.

Much more than beer and pizza — but those are really good, too

EagleMonk Pub and Brewery’s kitchen staff knows how to cook a gluten-free pizza, with a crisp and sturdy crust, a delicious house-made sauce, a liberal application of pepperoni and just enough cheese to hold it all together.

Your brewery has a mug club, but how about a crochet club? Sure, you’ve got the game on, but before kickoff, when is the local artist’s reception? How about a Thursday night bingo game that’s so crowded it’s standing room only?

FOOD: FEATURES FROM ELSEWHERE

6 Spring Break Feel-Good Essentials

(BPT) - Sunsweet prunes are the feel-good addition to spring break. From fueling your adventures to supporting energy levels throughout the day and helping you recover from fun, prunes are there to …

Take Family Favorites Al Fresco: Advice for enjoying easy meals outdoors

(Family Features) Salad season means fresh ingredients from lettuce and veggies to favorite toppings and beyond. Add a crisp bite to your next al fresco occasion with this Southwest Ranch Taco Salad.

Make Mom's Day with a Craveable Brunch

(Family Features) There's perhaps no better occasion to show off your kitchen skills than Mother's Day, a perfect opportunity to turn the tables on mom and let her relax while you handle cooking duties.
How the pretzel went from soft to hard – and other little-known facts about one of the world’s favorite snacks
The pretzel, one of the fastest-growing snack foods in the world, recently crossed a billion dollars a year in sales. It has its own emoji, comes in flavors like pumpkin spice, mocha and banana, and is now available as an aromatherapy scent. …
Comedian Craig Robinson Wants You To Microwave Your Cup Noodles
(BPT) - Many ramen fans are asking, “Wasn’t Cup Noodles always microwavable?” Recently, noodle fans nationwide were shocked to hear that they had been cooking their favorite meal …
5 Delicious Ways to Revamp Your Routine with Oats
(BPT) - Do you want to add more variety and nutrition to your meal planning? Consider incorporating Quaker Oats into your diet! While oats are typically associated with breakfast, they're a versatile …
A Creamy Pasta Delight Perfect for Dining Outdoors
(Culinary.net) Dining al fresco brings added freshness to favorite foods, and taking your next meal to the patio can be a fun, delicious way to soak in some vitamin D.
Master Hosting Duties with Sweet, Simple Snacks
(Culinary.net) Perfect for entertaining or simply enjoying after a long day at the office, easy snacks with a few ingredients can help satisfy cravings without spoiling dinner plans.

Ways to Make Mom's Day Extra Special

(Family Features) Make this year's celebration a true ode to the moms in your life with some extra special touches at breakfast and beyond, including recipes like Bacon-Wrapped Egg Muffins and Cinnamon Muffins.

Try adding these 10 healthiest snacks for weight loss into your daily food plan

Hers rounded up 10 healthy snacks that can help with weight loss goal, based on science.

Scrumptious Ways to Simplify Springtime Meals: Make weekday dining a breeze with easy, delicious recipes

(Family Features) These Shrimp, Broccoli and Potato Skewers with Lemon and Thyme can let you put a little spring in your weeknight dinners when paired with Easy as 1-2-3 Potato Salad.

Many people around the world make and eat fermented foods. Millions in Korea alone make kimchi. The cultural heritage of these picklers shape not only what they eat every time they crack open a jar …
Read more.
Best pizza places in 25 major cities
To help you find the best slice of pizza, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated pizza restaurants in 25 major cities using data from Yelp.
Into cafécore? It's the new trend for creating the coffee shop vibe at home
(BPT) - You may have heard of "-core" trends that center around a specific niche, like cottagecore (accessorizing your home like a lake house) or balletcore (a style that emphasizes elegance, ballet …
Sweeten Your Springtime Salads With Healthy Chilean Grapes
Sweeten Your Springtime Salads With Healthy Chilean Grapes
(NewsUSA) - Spring is here, so it’s time to bid farewell to winter soups and stews, and welcome fresh and festive salads.Take your salads to the next level this spring with the color, flavor, and …
Support the Planet with Sustainable, Plant-Forward Favorites
(Family Features) If lending a hand to planet Earth and the environment is a goal in your household, a sustainability mindset often begins as a consumer.
New clinical egg study reveals egg-cellent results
(BPT) - Americans are increasingly aware of the impact of cholesterol on heart health and overall well-being, but it’s not always easy to know which foods will truly have a positive effect. To …

Sweet Solutions to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo

(Family Features) From fajitas and tacos to everything in between, fueling your Cinco de Mayo fiesta starts with delicious food that brings everyone to the table.

Bring Joy Back to Family Meals

(Family Features) While meals savored with loved ones are intended to produce smiles and shared moments, the process of grocery shopping, planning and cooking has become a chore for many families.

East Coast Shoppers Gain New, Convenient Grocery Delivery Options

(BPT) - Whether you need groceries for your weekly meal prep, last-minute ingredients for tonight’s dinner or stocking up for upcoming holidays, you can now have your groceries delivered …

3 expert tips to fight the 3 p.m. slump

(BPT) - Do you struggle to stay focused and alert in the afternoon? The 3 p.m. slump is very real and hard to avoid! Many people feel their energy and productivity tank during this time, but …

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