Love at First Fish

Ten pins, eight lanes, cocktails, TV’s, and… Sushi?

   Being an avid bowler for the majority of my young adult life, I can say that I enjoy the sport as a competitive activity as well as a leisurely one. When I’m not being a serious (well 75% serious) bowler on my Sunday night league, I am probably at the lanes having a few brews and picking up spares with some buddies. What makes Lakeview Lanes different from all the other alleys around the state? Normally you can only go to a bowling alley for a few greasy chicken fingers and a hefty portion of French fries. Down on Center Street, the times are changing. Ever since new ownership has taken over it has given life new atmosphere has sprung to life in Douglas. Through the doors at Lakeview lanes the average smoky bowling alley is something of the past.

   I believe it was Elton John that once said “Saturday night’s alright for sushi.”

   Blake, one of the co-owners, introduced me to Emma on a Saturday night. Emma heads “Sushi Saturdays” at Lakeview Lanes. Emma has been cooking all her life and sushi has been a definite staple in her traditional cooking. She is originally from Japan and currently resides in Holland. I asked myself… “Why Japan to Holland of all places?” Well it turns out that Emma teaches Japanese at Hope College. I was caught off guard by this statement due to Emma’s perfect English, but I’ll take her word for it.

   So why am I rambling? I’ll tell you why!

   Each and every Saturday there are three chefs in the back preparing delectable Asian-born entrees. Maybe some of you are in the same boat, but I had never actually eaten sushi before, and I wanted to make sure that I could finally remove that void on my record. A lot of my friends talk about sushi like it is some sort event or as if the circus just came to town. I find sushi as an enigma in the culinary world and amongst adults from all age ranges.

   Last summer I questioned why sushi had not infiltrated the community yet. I figured with such a heavy population from Chicago that there would certainly be something of the sort in town. Of course… as soon as I left to headed back to school for the fall, Lakeview Lanes decided to put on the sushi parade. How many bowling related businesses serve sushi? I thought about looking it up via internet, however, Google might become confused when the words “sushi” and “bowling alley” are contained in the same phrase. I’m not sure how many bowling alleys have screened-in outdoor patios as well, but their probably aren’t too many.

   One step closer to an outdoor bowling alley, I can feel it. Touché’ Lakeview… touché’.

    

   Blake and Dave have already shown the community their ability to provide great food, and now they have one-upped themselves by serving out slices of exquisite sea delicacies!  You may wrap yourself around a serious serving of Japanese culture from 6:30 until 9:00 each Saturday.

   I’ll admit that I was a bit of a skeptic when it came to believing that there was enjoyment to be gained out of eating something that looks like it just hopped out of the water. I’ve watched Man V. Wild on many occasions and I have been frightened by the apparent disregard for food-borne illnesses. I have seen Bear Grylls barely stomach things like raw lizard, live scorpions and trimmings of a freshly slain zebra for survival purposes. I always thought to myself other than a life or death survival situation, why would anyone want to eat raw fish? Well it turns out that I was pleasantly surprised.

   Real. Succulent. Sushi.

   I sat with a few friends and we ordered quite a platter of various sushi bits (it was definitely a family-sized platter). We started out with the light, elegant miso soup that was fit for a true tofu lover. The soup is a great way to get the dinner started and it always reminds me of my first time at a Japanese steak house!

   After sharing a few funny stories with company and cherishing fond memories of the past, the grand display had made a move for our table.

   The wasabi was delightful. The combination was perfect. The ginger was arranged in such a way that it actually resembled a pink rose in full bloom. It was an epic Lakeview moment for tearing down the walls to my sushi virginity. As I dipped my rice-covered fish clippings into my dish filled with soy sauce, I began to enjoy what I have been missing out on for so long. I was not only surprised by the excellent flavor and presentation, but who knew sushi was so filling? I have a feeling that people seem to believe that sushi is too expensive for the amount of food you actually receive… I know that’s how I felt! It turns out that I was completely stuffed on spicy tuna before I knew it.  

   I enjoy being proven wrong in life (It gives me faith in humanity). This day just happened to be one of those days. A new avenue has opened in my world and I will always remember that my craving for sushi all started at Lakeview Lanes. It might not be your typical place, but on the other hand I think that becomes the beauty of it.

P.S.… The carrot cake is a definite topper for a great dining experience!

Pulling Apart Perception

Preface: A great idea only comes to fruition when all the pieces of a puzzle come together as one.

   I am sad to say that I am plagued by a habit that commits a level of ill justice or a type of severe analysis by mere glance. It can also be described as judging a book by its cover. In this very case, I would be guilty of judging a restaurant by its menu. My mind likes to tell me that a restaurant with multiple entrees in excess of $20.00 accompanied by a two hour wait will most likely equate to one expensive evening. I often come to the conclusion that such places may not be worth my time and money. Call me cheap if you’d like, but I don’t get paid to go to college (at least not yet). As a result of not giving myself the chance to even step foot inside, I have once again made a terrible mistake.

   Either way, there is always a “think twice” mentality when making a choice about high-end dining. If you are going to shell out a few clams for some quality eats then you probably want to get the most out of it right? The truth is that perceptions lead to word of mouth (rumors; good and bad) and can eventually lead to the spread of misleading information. If you aren’t familiar with misleading information or information with tons of holes then just watch Glen Beck or the O’Reilly Factor for a few minutes... then come back and continue reading.

   I wanted to be proved wrong about what little information I have held with me about a place on the corner of Main and Center Street. After having the chance to speak with co-owner Matt Balmer and Chef Michael Bild of Everyday People Café, I began to build a new perception of their establishment.

   Is there something behind the curtain of E.P.C. that separates them from the others? Well, yes, there are indeed some noticeable differences…

   Matt and Michael educated me on a specific philosophy that has brought them a wealth of success in recent years. Their philosophy can be described in a two-word phrase they call a “Meal Experience.” What is a meal experience you say? When you say meal experience, you are characterizing something that encompasses more than just the most amazing dinner plate you have set your eyes on. It’s more than that. Besides, what is an award winning dish without a little ambiance anyways? Its just a dish, not an experience.

   The experience all begins with the pieces of a delicately manicured puzzle. If you are familiar with a puzzle (I’m going to assume that 99.9% of the readers are) then you know that a puzzle can be broken down an infinite number of ways. However, no matter what you think you are capable of, a puzzle can only be put together in one way. In relation to Everyday People Café, their unique puzzle described as a “Meal Experience” is pieced together by four simple components attached with one golden rule: Food, Service, Atmosphere, Price… and doing all of them Consistently.

  Matt Balmer has displayed his level of commitment to his customers with a strong sense of value. If you flew, drove, or hit the midnight train down to Chicago you would probably pay twice as much for any entree that you can find at Everyday People Café. The quality might be rivaled, but the value is absolutely unrivaled by anyone! The average passerby might not understand that what they are eating is relatively inexpensive in comparison to like-restaurants, yet it is still of the highest quality.

   People may also not grasp the fact that a lot of what they are eating is pumped out from local farmers and producers. Mr. Bild whips up dishes that include items from places like Dancing Goat Creamery (the only certified organic goat cheese/milk producer in Michigan), Hoffer Farms, Visser, Palazzolo’s, Crane’s Pie Pantry, Blue Star Meats, Schroeder’s Sugar Shack and many more!

   Did you know Michael and the crew throw down all of their foods from scratch?

   

   If you are listening to some patio blues in the summer or you are nestled up by the fireplace in the winter, E.P.C. is continuously hitting you with generous portions of cultured cuisine. It is casual dining at its finest after all! They have been serving comfort food to patrons for the past 13 years.

   Comfort Food? Hmmm…….

   E.P.C. delivers what they like to call comfort food with a twist. And no, this doesn’t mean that your steak will unexpectedly morph into something else as your evening hits the midpoint (that’s just absurd). This simply means that those familiar foods you know and love have a little spice thrown into the mix. The great thing about a night with your guests at Everyday People Café is knowing that you can count on a consistent result.  The taste doesn’t change day to day or week to week, and Matt Balmer will stand by that.

   Whether you are looking for a bright, knowledgeable staff member to help you select a particular type of  “Grower Champagne” or the right type of pasta concoction; you can feel at ease, because you are in the hands of seasoned veterans that know how to satisfy your meal experience to the utmost degree!

   Everyday People Café has something special in the works here in Douglas, and don’t be shy to drop on by. Just remember, even though you have to wait like everybody else (Hint: It is called Everyday People Cafe), I can assure you that you won’t be disappointed!

Now go get served!