My first kitchen job involved making six gallons of gazpacho every Sunday. This was back when earning your chops meant something, and making that whole batch with just a knife and peeler — no … more

Fall is the perfect time to slow down and savor the last days of sunshine and temperatures in the 70s. Way out in Meridian Township, fields are turning yellow, farmers are pulling in the last of their harvests, and Pho 777 is serving up perfectly spiced Vietnamese soups to fortify diners against the coming cold. more

Few foods boast the versatility of pork. It can be grilled, smoked, slow-cooked, fried or baked, and professional and amateur chefs alike know there’s no end to recipes where pork is the main attraction. more

Imam bayildi is an eggplant dish named for its ability to separate a man from his consciousness. The Turkish phrase means, “The imam fainted,” and the implication is that the decadent and aromatic experience of eating this glorious dish knocked the imam out cold. more

This week, I thought I would step out of my comfort zone and try a type of cuisine I haven’t had much experience with, so I made my way to Okemos to visit Social Sloth Cafe & Catering for its Turkish offerings. more

I somehow made it through childhood with minimal exposure to what I now realize was a cherished part of many growth spurts: grilled cheese and tomato soup. more

Williamston’s Old Nation Brewing Co. offers a relaxed atmosphere, creative sides and plenty of locally crafted beers to choose from. Its masculine design aesthetics — think open-concept with exposed HVAC, a la Lansing Brewing Co. — are balanced out by the genuine friendliness of the staff and little touches of care such as a phone-charging station at the bar. more

Caprese salad is a simple dish. Yet the mere combination of tomato, basil and mozzarella cheese, dusted with salt and slathered in olive oil, accomplishes so much. Dressed in the colors of the Italian flag, Caprese exemplifies the fresh, ingredient-centric ethos of Italian cuisine. Like a margherita pizza without the crust and heat, Caprese is the perfect way to enjoy the downslope of summer. more

It would take me multiple pages to express my love for The Avenue Cafe, a dive bar and music venue on East Michigan Avenue. I can get a 16-ounce beer for $4, test my knowledge of various topics in weekly trivia, enjoy live performances by some of my favorite local bands — often for free — and put all my loose quarters to use at the plethora of pinball machines. more

“The first time I tried your dad’s salad,” my friend Terrie recalled, “my eyes popped open, my mouth was burning, and I was like, ‘What the ... ’” more

A tree-ripened peach needs nothing but a place for the juice to drip after you begin to devour it. It’s like no other fruit, with a complex bouquet of flavors that changes from peach to peach, fine-tuned by subtle weather patterns that are different each summer. more

During a recent midweek date night, I took my wife to Ohana Sushi and Bar, a family-owned and operated restaurant off West Saginaw Highway in Lansing. more

“Always drink your best beer,” says my buddy Chad Harder. “That way, you will always be drinking your best beer.” This mantra is as close to religion as he may ever get. Its wisdom is available to all, including non-beer drinkers like myself. But as a wine drinker, I have faced similar calculations when deciding which bottle to drink, and Harder’s algorithm takes all the stress and guesswork out of that ordeal. Don’t overthink it. Drink your best stuff. Always. That’s it. more

Ellison Brewery and Event Space 1314 S. Washington Ave., Lansing 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday 7:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday ellisonbrewing.com more

When summer’s bounty comes at you faster than you can handle, the veggies will start to pile up. That’s why we need recipes capable of incorporating the myriad produce of the garden, farmers market, generous neighbors and other sources of seasonal food. more

Delicious, cheap and fast — at Pancho’s Taqueria, you don’t have to pick just two. The brick-and-mortar location on Elmwood Road was my DoorDash standby during the pandemic, and, now that the world has reopened, we’ve continued to see each other in person. more

I’ve often heard Coral Gables being written off as dated and reserved for the over-60 set by my peers. It’s a great restaurant option for seniors, winning a Top of the Town award in that category every year since the category was created, but I’m of the opinion that it’s seriously underrated as an option for diners of all ages. more

Good nutrition throughout a person’s lifespan helps prevent chronic disease, and it’s never too late to make improvements to support healthy aging. more

Greetings, earthlings! Area 52, a new sci-fi-themed diner, landed in Owosso last month, and it’s serving up out-of-this-world dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  The restaurant … more

Many of my favorite recipes come from the kitchens of farmer friends. There’s a pleasing elegance to farm cookery. It’s a cuisine forged by the circumstances of a land-based … more