Oddly enough, I was in the middle of putting at Pebble Beach when the call of the wild gave way, leading me to a New York state of mind. My cousin, who hails from Buffalo, was singing the praises of a certain restaurant where “Captain Picky Eater” claims he loves the food! Where might this magical place be, I quipped. “It’s in the middle of nowhere in Michigan.” Shazam, that’s right up this girl’s alley and as it turns out. It’s not too far from Grandmother’s house. His word and the word of an overt wine snob (bragging up the wine list) were good enough for me. A hunting I will go and go I did. He had me at meatloaf. If he thought they made enviable meatloaf, my competitive side had to go see what all the fuss is about. I’ll be the judge of that, I mused. Not only was he right, but he should also have mentioned to bring a friend or two because they are not shy on servings at this fancy “Hunting Lodge” in Howard City. A nice escape for weary Deer-Hunting-Wives and just regular folks to boot. And this is not new news.
This lighted beacon is like the Statue of Liberty of Howard City, if you will. Of course, that seems like quite a stretch until you experience the culinary delights from near and far. This historic monument on the corner of Edgarton & Ensley has been a staple since 1869 and has welcomed weary travelers in days gone by as The Golden Hotel.
I also got a feeling that I was somehow home. And it wasn’t too far afield. I recognized the huge palatial oak bar, which was formerly prominently perched in the Pantlind Hotel, where I had visited many times and later welcomed guests, as I was on the opening team of the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids. I’m thinking the well-heeled staff at The Forager has to deal with a lot of patrons who just stare off in amazement at their great luck having found such a gem that they almost want to either shout from the rooftops or keep it to themselves. I know I was on the fence with those feelings. For all the reasons. This particular day it was bone-chilling cold. Layers of clothing seemed like a whisper of assistance. Hot cocoa infused with bourbon cream chased the chill away for another day. It turns out that the hot cocoa concoction was personally created by Chef Brian Thebo.
Read More at Grand Rapids Magazine https://www.grmag.com/food-drink/table/the-forager-a-real-find/
