Sander's Candy Review

This is the twelfth in a series of posts for Michigan 2013.

Other posts in this series include: Lumber Jack, Pink Pony, Chippewa Hotel, Twist n Sprouts,  Pancake House, Island Slice Pizzeria, Chuckwagon, Millie's on Main, Seabiscuit Cafe, 

Murdick's Fudge, and Joann's Fudge. 

Fred Sanders opened the first Sander's store in the late 1800's and later, developed an outpost in the center of Main Street, Mackinac Island. As the GF's folks and I were waiting for our ferry to take us off of the Island, we couldn't help but try their fudge as well.

Chocolate Fudge

This was a creamy fudge, to be sure. Compared to the others on the Island, it seemed more sugarier and even fluffier. Nice, though our dentists would disagree I'm sure.

I don't consider myself to be a fudge or even a dessert connoisseur. So the differences between the fudge shops on the Island are minimal at best. So I guess the moral of the story is just try them all! 

Sander's Candy
1359 Hoban Street
Mackinac Island, MI 49757
(906) 847-0250
http://www.sanderscandy.com/

Tamarind Review

The GF and I were catching up with our friends, J and Christine. Since it was around dinnertime, we decided to order some Thai to satiate our appetites. Knowing that Tamarind was on point, J suggested we stop by for pick up (unfortunately they don't deliver). Natch, the girls resumed drinking. Located on South Street, this BYO actually seems to be a great place to take a date - provided you can handle the impending spice!

Spring Roll ($3.95)
Chicken, glass noodles, shredded carrot, deep fried pastry shell, house special sauce

We started off with some spring rolls, which were pretty standard, but good nonetheless. Crispy and filled with small bits of pulled chicken and glass noodles, the brightness of the sauce helped to create a satisfying bite. 

Steamed Dumpling ($5.95)
Crab-style dumpling, steamed, soy sauce, vinegar, red chile pepper sauce

Topped with bits of chopped peanuts, these 'shumai' were delicious savory bites, accentuated by the sweet heat of the chili sauce. 

Beef Satay ($5.95)
Grilled marinated in coconut milk, turmeric curry, peanut sauce, cucumber relish

We also went for the beef satay, which unfortunately was a bit dry and chewy. Perhaps it needed to be marinated a bit longer? The peanut sauce was definitely necessary to add some moistness to each bite. The cucumber relish seemed a bit superfluous considering the small amount and the fact that this was a satay. 

Radna ($11.95)
Thai flat noodles stir-fried, fresh shrimp, vegetables, brown sauce.

The radna offered a bounty of shrimp and veggies in an abundance of brown sauce. The veggies had bite though the shrimp were slightly overcooked.

Pad Thai ($11.95) 
Stir-fried rice noodles, chicken, mung bean sprouts, tofu, chopped egg

Of course, to gauge Tamarind's worth - I had to try the pad thai. Tamarind's version seemed authentic - a bounty of mung bean sprouts, tofu, and egg interspersed with noodles and chicken. It wasn't overdressed in sauce, which I appreciated at first. But then I realized the spice level.

In fact, take a look at my pad thai on the left and the GF's on the right. Night and day. At Tamarind, you can order your preferred spice level from 0 to 7. J knows I like things spicy and I didn't even give it another thought when I said to order mine spicy. Of course, J took that to mean I wanted a 7 haha. Needless to say, I was sweating bullets after a few bites.

Overall, Tamarind offers a decent option for Thai on South Street. For being a BYO, they also take credit cards! Just remember - if you're on a date or are looking to save yourself from some GI distress, take it easy with the spice level. This is one of those few instances where it might be good to go home rather than go big.

http://www.tamarindsouthstreet.com/new/

Joann's Fudge Review

This is the eleventh in a series of posts for Michigan 2013.
 Other posts in this series include: Lumber Jack, Pink Pony, Chippewa Hotel, Twist n Sprouts,  Pancake House, Island Slice Pizzeria, Chuckwagon, Millie's on Main, Seabiscuit Cafe, 

and Murdick's Fudge. 

After watching the fudge makers create their art through a huge glass window, we knew we had to step into Joann's Fudge shop.

The shop is beautifully decorated with hand-carved wood all around. And of course, the requisite fudge and brittle is proudly on display.

They have a variety of options on offer, including several sugar free ones! 

Just check out that gorgeous fudge!

They also make brittle and in retrospect, I wish I had gotten some! 

Here's another money shot of that pure, gorgeous fudge. 

They've got a variety of specials for tourists to take advantage of. 

Peanut Butter Chocolate 

The GF loves the combo of chocolate and peanut butter so we decided to try this iteration. The huge nougats of peanut butter were salty complements to the creamy, thick fudge.

Joann's Fudge is definitely another winner in my book. If you're on the Island, I wouldn't hesitate to step into their fudge shop - just don't forget to grab some brittle on your way out too and let me know how it tastes!

www.joannsfudge.com 

28 West Review

This is for a series of posts for the Borgata Hotel & The Water Club including: Bobby Flay Steak, Wolfgang Puck American Grille, The Cafeteria, Tony Luke's, N.O.W., Metropolitan, Sun Room, Fat Burger, 28 West, Gelato, and the Borgata Buffet.  

It was unfortunate when West Coast celebrity chef Michael Mina's Sea Blue closed at the Borgata Hotel, Casino, & Spa. One of the better, if not best, seafood restaurants was lost to AC at the end of last year.

Unfortunately, the high price points and lack of name recognition on the East Coast underscored its demise. But in its place came 28 West, which offers gastropub fare in a swanky environment. 

The vibe emanates swank and jazz, but the pianist playing Billy Joel was still appreciated. 

Blueberry Cosmopolitan ($12)
Vodka, elderflower liqueur, white cranberry juice, lemon juice, blueberries, simple syrup 

The GF started off the night with a blueberry cosmo. Clean flavors and not overly saccharine, there was an enjoyable tartness as well. 

Bourbon Blackberry Collins ($12)
Bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, blackberries, club soda
  

I've been on a whiskey/bourbon/scotch kick as of late and this was surprisingly refreshing. The weight of the bourbon was lightened up by the countervailing sweetness of the lemon juice and simple syrup. The muddled blackberries were a nice touch as well.

Eggplant Caponata ($6)
Roasted eggplant, sweet Italian sausage, Moroccan spice, EVOO, grilled crusty garlic bread

If an eggplant appetizer is on the menu, I'll most likely order it. This was a delicious iteration that was heightened by the sweet sausage and the Morrocan spices evoked curry flavors. While the "grilled" bread did not seem have any notes of garlic or grill marks for that matter, it was texturally on point to house the smooth, smoky caponata.

Salad 28 ($10)
Petite lettuce, frisée, pear tomatoes, watermelon radish, cranberries, grapes, green apple, Romano cheese, muscatel vinaigrette

The GF was in the mood for rabbit food as well, so we ordered the salad, which was actually well dressed with the moscato vinaigrette. The understated sweetness was a perfect counterpoint for the bitter greens. There were a lot of components to the plate including the pear tomatoes, watermelon radish, grapes, cranberries, candied pecans, and Romano cheese - oh my! 

Fish and Chips ($12)
Crispy beer batter, duck fat fries, lemon, caper, tarragon remoulade 

For her main, the GF went with the fish and chips. The crispy batter housed a delicate, meaty white fish. The tartar sauce was nicely tart, with the dill coming through. The pittance of duck fat fries were limp and a bit greasy however. They were well seasoned though. 

Angus Burger ($12)
White cheddar, bacon, crushed avocado, red onion jam
  

In general, 28 West offers bar bites a la gastropub fare. And indeed, the burger her was petite. However, it was incredibly juicy. Ordered medium-rare, the burger came out closer to medium.

Still, the meat was well seasoned and succulent. The creamy avocado and white cheddar, the tart sweetness of the red onion jam, and the crispy, smoky bacon complemented each other perfectly. The sesame bun was toasted nicely as well.

Similar to the GF's entree, these fries were also greasy and limp, but well seasoned. The accompanying garlic aioli was nice.

Overall, if you're looking for great gastropub fare at affordable prices, 28 West is a great bet (you are in a casino after all!). The fries could be upgraded a bit, but other than that, I'm excited to try the other bites on the menu! 

http://www.theborgata.com/entertain/nightlife/28-west

Murdick's Fudge Review

This is the tenth in a series of posts for Michigan 2013.
Other posts in this series include: Lumber Jack, Pink Pony, Chippewa Hotel, Twist n Sprouts,  Pancake House, Island Slice Pizzeria, Chuckwagon, Millie's on Main, and Seabiscuit Cafe. 

Using an original recipe from 1887, the first store in Traverse City, MI was owned and operated by Doug Murdick and his family in 1964. Though apparently unaffiliated, another Murdick's Fudge opened on Mackinac Island - they even have an East Coast operation on Martha's vineyard well! Considering that fudge is such a specialty on Mackinac Island, we knew we had to try them. 

As you enter into the shop, you can smell the sweetness in the air!

They have a wide variety of flavors on display! 

And it's always fun to watch them actually make the fudge!

Michigan Maple Walnut 
 

The maple walnut was certainly sweet, but had a nice hearty undertone from the maple and substantial nuttiness from the walnut. Nice. 

Chocolate Macadamia Nut 
 

The chocolate macadamia nut was creamy and simply melts on your mouth. 

German Chocolate Cake

The German chocolate cake was one of my favorites due to the crust, which had coconut, 

pecans, and a caramel top. Yum. 

Original Chocolate 
 

The original chocolate was inherently creamy and sweet - you could feel a tingling in your teeth from the sugar overload. 

Chocolate Peanut Butter 
 

And the GF's favorite was the chocolate peanut butter, which had creamy nougats of peanut butter studded throughout. 

Certainly as an original institution and considering the storied history behind this fudge, you'd be remiss if you didn't check it out. They've got enough flavors to satisfy any sweet tooth and give you enough sugary pep in your step to explore the entirety of Mackinac Island. 

http://www.murdicksfudgemackinacisland.com/home.cfm

Seabiscuit Cafe Review

This is the ninth in a series of posts for Michigan 2013.
Other posts in this series include: Lumber Jack, Pink Pony, Chippewa Hotel, Twist n Sprouts,  Pancake House, Island Slice Pizzeria, Chuckwagon, and Millie's on Main.

After an 8-mile bike ride around the entire circumference of Mackinac Island, which featured scenic views and unfortunately way too many Mayflies, the GF's family and I decided to grab lunch at Seabiscuit Cafe. Named after the Tobey Maguire movie (which is on repeat on TV screens), the famed racehorse is clearly revered here.

And with good reason. Lifelong island residents Debra and Sandra Orr decided to purchase this former 1800s bank building for their ode to the importance of horses on the Island. The interior is certainly reminiscent of a well-designed stable complete with a bar. 

Great Lakes Whitefish Filet ($18.99)
Broiled with Chardonnay, caper berries, fresh squeezed lemon juice, sweet potato fries  

The GF was in the mood for fish and chips, but she was disappointed when she realized that the whitefish was skin-on. Even for myself, it was a bit of a turn off since the skin-side was not crispy at all. The meat of the fish was lightly accentuated by the Chardonnay. I don't know where the caper berries or the sweet potato fries were though. Standard fries accompanied the fish, though they were nicely crisp and well-seasoned.

Monte Cristo ($14.95)
Egg battered french bread, crisp chicken breast, honey tavern ham, melted muenster, sassy mayo, drizzled fruit spice, haystack fries
  

I was in the mood for a bit of a heavy sandwich so I went with the Monte Cristo. However, I was a bit disappointed by the sweetness of this sandwich since I was looking for something a bit more savory. While the description did mention a french toast type bread and drizzled fruit spice, the spice was more of a sauce.

That coupled with the honey tavern ham made this more of a dessert than a main. The sassy mayo was so overpowered I could not make it out. The chicken breast was juicy and crisp though. Sadly, haystack fries were supposed to accompany this sandwich, 

but I got the standard fries the GF received.

Unfortunately,  the Seabiscuit Cafe didn't do it for us. I'm sure this is a great place for Island residents to grab a  drink and simple pub fare, but the dishes we ordered missed the mark. It helps to be served the actual sides advertised on the menu or to be told if there's going to be a substitution.

www.seabiscuitcafe.com

Millie's on Main Review

This is the eighth in a series of posts for Michigan 2013.
Other posts in this series include: Lumber Jack, Pink Pony, Chippewa Hotel, Twist n Sprouts,  Pancake House, Island Slice Pizzeria, and Chuckwagon.

For lunch on the Island, the GF's family and I decided to head to Millie's on Main for breakfast. Unfortunately, we realized they don't serve that meal of the day, so we waited a few minutes for lunch service to start (woke up a bit late that morning!).

The interior was nicely spacious and reminiscent of a pub. 

 Green Bean Fries ($6.99)

We started off the morning with some green bean fries which were great. They were perfectly fried and crispy without being greasy. It came with a nicely piquant horseradish sauce to temper the fried texture of the green beans.

Grilled Club Deluxe ($10.99)
All natural ham, turkey, Plith's bacon, Swiss, American, lettuce, tomato, red pepper mayo
  

The GF went with the grilled club deluxe which had fresh ingredients and plenty of them. So of course, she could only finish half of it, but luckily the belly of this pig was there to save the day. The mayo and crisp bacon made this sandwich. The homemade chips were money as well. 

Beef Pastie ($12.99)
Seasoned beef, carrot, onions, potatoes

Apparently pasties are a big thing "Up North." So of course, I had to go with this dish. I wish I hadn't. Either I'm just not a fan of pasties in general or this one was poorly executed, but the pastie did not have a crispy outer pastry. It had more of a doughy exterior.

This was especially surprising since the innards were creamy - pretty one note in terms of texture. The innards were somewhat seasoned, but the potatoes, carrots, and beef definitely needed the thick pepper gravy. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to finish the pastie. And the coleslaw was an afterthought. Disappointing.

I would definitely come back to Millie's on Main for the green bean fries, the club, or a drink. But I definitely wasn't a fan of the pastie though I would probably give the dish another try 

from a different source. 

http://www.yelp.com/biz/millies-on-main-mackinac-island