MY HOTEL LIFE

The High Line Park, NYC

2012-02-23T21:36:00.000-05:00

THE HIGH LINE/FEBRUARY 22/7:07 AM

London For Foodies

2012-02-19T11:09:00.000-05:00

London's foodie scene is no longer the laughing stock of Europe. Read my travel column in The Grand Rapids Press and MLive.com by clicking HERE.

See more photos below

Thank You New York Times!

2012-02-12T12:55:00.001-05:00

Bucket List...get featured in The New York Times...Check! Read today's Times featuring yours truly. Click HERE!

The Review: Food Dance, Kalamazoo

2012-02-09T20:50:00.000-05:00

Food Dance specializes in house-made charcuterie and local cheeses

Read my MLive.com / The Grand Rapids Press dining review of this gem of a farm-to-table restaurant in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Click HERE to read my entire article and see more photos.

The Good Life - A Foodie's Guide to College Towns

2012-02-05T23:09:00.001-05:00

For this month's The Good Life column on Shore Magazine, read my foodie's guide to America's college towns - from Berkeley, California to New York City. To read column, click HERE or read below.

Burough Market, London

2012-01-20T08:34:00.000-05:00

The Burough Market on the backside of London Bridge is a must stop if your travel brings you to London. I wandered through the stalls for a couple of hours; sampling lots freebies from local artisans and global purveyors. I finally settled for the "Toastie" grilled cheese sandwich that was irresistible.

Aside from being a foodie heaven, the market is a photographers paradise. So bring your camera and snap away. You
have to be conscious though that some vendors don't like their photos taken. That's what a zoom lens is for. Enjoy.

Belgo Restaurant, London

2012-01-09T21:29:00.000-05:00

The Belgo Kitchen Line

This is one of my go-to restaurants in central London. A perfect stop after a day of shopping in Covent Garden. If you love home-style mussels, then this is the place. Belgo is like going to church without having to sit through a boring
sermon. Servers wear monk robes and serve flights of the best beers in the world.

Don't miss the communal toilets with a huge circular hand sink and foot pedals to turn on the water.

Restaurant: Belgo Centraal
Tube station: Covent Garden
Website: belgo-restaurants.co.uk

Sauteed Squid with Chorizo with Roquette, Baby Gem, Tomato & Lemon Dressing

The Belgo Specialty: Fresh Rope Grown Mussels Green Thai style - steamed in Coconut,
Green Chili, Lemongrass, Lime & Coriander

Spiced Pit Roast Chicken with Mushrooms

Spiced Pit Roast Chicken with Sweet Chili and Ginger

Spiced Pit Roast Chicken with Leeks and Mustard

Servers wear monk robes

Eames Chairs

The cave-like dining room with communal seating

Crepes with Grand Marnier and Vanilla Ice Cream

Walking Server

House Delights

The Delicious Dozen on EightWest TV Show

2012-01-06T18:57:00.000-05:00

The Delicious Dozen: woodtv.com

The Asian-Italian Family Dinner

2012-01-05T22:06:00.000-05:00

Beef Shabu-Shabu

At the request of my kids, I made our family an Asian-Italian feast for our Christmas dinner. On the menu: Malfadine with Baseball Size Meatballs (my favorite), Sweet Peppers with Spicy Italian Sausage and Beef Shabu-Shabu (Japanese Hot Pot). It was the idyllic Christmas Day. No agenda. No parties to go to. Just the five of us around a table of
comfort food. It was perfect.

How was your Christmas meal?

Frying the giant meatballs

Malfadine with Meatballs

The full stove top

My daughter Francesca dipping her beef in the shabu-shabu

Shabu-Shabu traffic

New Year's Eve at the JW Marriott

2012-01-04T22:01:00.000-05:00

New Year's Eve in downtown Grand Rapids just keeps getting bigger every year.

40,000 revelers packed Monroe St. for the HOT FM outdoor concert featuring The Romantics. There wasn't a single seat available for last minute dinner reservations and every bar was pretty much packed to the gills. This is definitely no longer the sleepy town it used to be.

My wife and I had great intentions of hitting our regular spots before ending up at the JW Marriott. Reserve Wine Bar
was on the list. So as Bar Divani and Lumber Baron. But by the time we got downtown at 10:30PM, we decided to settle with glasses of champagne in Mixology Lounge at the JW with some friends while the Steve Hilger band serenaded the sophisticated crowd to some bossa nova.

By 11:30PM, our party of 4 increased by 10 more with the addition of other close friends who were in six.one.six for dinner. As the ball dropped on Times Square, we were up in the International Ballroom of the hotel, along with 1,000 other guests for the always rocking Retro Party.

Digital Joes kept the dance floor packed as the city celebrated another momentous year. As for me, I couldn't imagine spending New Year's Eve anywhere else but right here in Grand Rapids.

2011: What a Year at the JW!

2012-01-01T17:41:00.002-05:00

JLe's Black & White Party in 2009 kicked off the JW Social Media Parties

Do you remember the days before Facebook and JW Social Media Parties? Social life in GR was pretty much limited to the bars and a few street parties. The JW Marriott Grand Rapids has been going strong since the first social media event 3 years ago when we kicked off the Social Media Party Phenomenon with Jimmy Le's Birthday Black & White Party. We've come a long way, baby! Thanks to our loyal fans and street team of guerilla promoters.

To say that 2011 was a banner year for the jdub is truly the understatement of the year. Let's recap our social media

parties this past year starting with the biggest event of the year: Tommy Fitzgerald's Juice Ball for Kids Food Basket.

JANUARY

JUICE BALL

FEBRUARY

LITTLE BLACK DRESS & HAUS OF LEISURE FASHION SHOW

MARCH

SALSA PACHANGA

LAUGHFEST FESTIVITIES

ASIAN GALA

APRIL

ICE BRIGADE'S SPRING BLING

SIN CHUN'S "EAT THE WHOLE MENU" AT SIX.ONE.SIX

Loyal JW Fan, Sin Chun, started his "ETWM" campaign at six.one.six. He started his blog, Sinful Advocations, to document his eating journey.

MAY

PACHANGA LATINA

JUNE

JDEK OPENING/JSQUAD LAUNCH PARTY

ASIAN'S NIGHT OUT (ANO)

FRANK'S KNOCKOUT FITNESS JDEK BASH

JULIE REGAN'S STELLA & DOT PARTIES

JULY

JDEK FOURTH OF JULY FESTIVITIES

VISALUS BMW LAUNCH PARTY

AUGUST

THE WHITE OUT PARTY

SEPTEMBER

CELEBRATION ON THE GRAND

ASIAN'S NIGHT OUT FOR THE PHILIPPINE MADRIGAL SINGERS

ARTPRIZE

OCTOBER

JUST WICKED HALLOWEEN PARTY

NOVEMBER

FRANK'S KNOCKOUT FITNESS' KO FOR CANCER CELEBRITY BOXING EVENT

DECEMBER

PACHANGA DE NAVIDAD

RETRO NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY

The Delicious Dozen

2012-01-01T11:19:00.001-05:00

Are you a list hoarder?

If you are like me, New Year’s Day marks the day I jot down a million things I want to accomplish over the next 365 days. Creating to-do lists make me feel like I’m organized and in control even though I have more lists - between my phone, computers, Moleskine notebooks and loose scraps of paper in my office and home - than my actual number of “things to do.” But, what the heck? Lists are fun, and in some auspicious way, a therapeutic remedy to the hectic lives we live. So here I am adding another list, but this one will be worth hanging on to and accomplishing this year.

West Michigan eateries have raised the bar this past year by employing impressive talent and by producing the most memorable dishes I’ve had in the area. So here I am adding another list, but this one will be worth hanging on to and

accomplishing this year. They range from cozy dives to the sexy locales. These are the 12 restaurants I plan to visit more than once in the next 364 days, and I hope you do too.

Hot Restaurants

Grove Restaurant

919 Cherry St., Grand Rapids

616.454.1000

groverestaurant.com

Grove is so hot right now that I am adding fuel to the fire by making it even hotter by endorsing it as my go-to restaurant in West Michigan and a “must experience” in your 2012 list. Let’s just say that almost every dish that I’ve tried so far has been stunning – House-Made Charcuterie, Kimchee Stew with a slow poached 63-degree egg, Greek Yogurt Cheesecake and the lists goes on.

Kimchee Stew

Amore Trattoria Italiana

5080 Alpine Ave. NW, Comstock Park

616.785.5344

amoretrattoriaitaliana.com

Chef Jenna hounded me on Facebook and on my blog until I finally gave in to her invitations to check out her authentic Italian restaurant in the middle of nowhere. Be prepared to stuff yourself with her delicious cooking and charismatic personality. This place is the real deal and the best Italian food in West Michigan. And if you are longing for a good cup of espresso, her husband Maurizio, makes a darn good one.

Steamed Mussels

Ruth’s Chris

187 Monroe NW, Grand Rapids

616.776.6426

amwaygrand.com

The opening of Ruth’s Chris shattered all expectations as this steak house continues its surge into the Grand Rapids dining market. How can you question numbers like 250 to 300 covers a night? Don’t even mess around and order the filet. There is a reason that the filet is the only cut of meat the restaurant features in its global advertising. The Sweet Potato side dish is good enough to order as dessert. And please, don’t touch the sizzling 500-degree plate.

The sexy dining room

Farm-To-Table Classics

six.one.six

235 Louis St. NW, Grand Rapids

616.242.1448

ilove616.com

This is my home turf and I can tell you that Executive Chef Justin and Sous Chef Jacob take their mission as farm-to table chefs as seriously as the surgeons in the ER. These guys and their team salivate when they are butchering a whole pig in the back. The Tempura Tuna Roll, Cheesy Pesto Flatbread, Whitefish and the NY Strip continue to be the rock stars but there are many gems with each season’s new menu offerings.

Otto's Chicken Breast

Food Dance

401 E. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo

269.382.1888

fooddance.net

John Gonzalez asked me once for the location of the best burger in the region. Well John, here it is and it’s worth the 50-minute drive to K-Zoo. But Food Dance is a lot more than burgers. It is a full-blown farm-to-table restaurant serving sumptuous meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Dining room at Food Dance in Kalamazoo

Salt of the Earth

114 E. Main St., Fennville

269.561.7258

saltoftheearthfennville.com

I have been a fan of SOTE ever since we had the most delicious Mother’s Day Brunch here two years ago. Food can’t be more rustic than SOTE’s Half Chicken with Cheddar Polenta or the Whole Hog Pizza. The setting is charming with wood floors and a barnyard door dividing the two dining rooms.

A whole fish treat at SOTA

The Dives

El Granjero Mexican Grill

950 Bridge St., Grand Rapids

616.458.5595

You know this is a special place when my most influential Mexicans friends gather here for their power lunches. The El Granjero Burrito is as huge as a boxing glove. And the Salsa Verde packs a punch like Juan Manuel Marquez (Thank you sir, I want another). This is hands-down my favorite Mexican joint in town.

Asian Palace

825 28^th St. SW, Wyoming

616.334.7770

If you haven’t had a bowl of Vietnamese Pho, then you haven’t lived at all. And this is the place to have it. Brace yourself because this restaurant epitomizes a dive joint: plastic floral tablecloths, stacking banquet chairs and a TV in the corner showing re-runs of Soul Train and CD collection infomercials. But the Rare Beef Pho is extra special and worthy of a visit even if you’re the only person in the room who is not Asian. Welcome to my world.

Rare Beef Pho

The Hangout

Reserve Wine Bar

201 Monroe NW, Grand Rapids

616.855.WINE

reservegr.com

The staff and I are on a first name basis at Reserve. They know the wines that I love, more importantly; they also know what my wife likes. Grand Rapids is lucky to have a culinarian like chef Matt because he knows what he is doing. The buzz here is the 104 wines on tap and the charcuterie and cheese offerings, but don’t forget that the rest of the menu is just a good.

104 wines on tap and ArtPrize winner at Reseve

Rose’s

550 Lakeside Dr., East Grand Rapids

616.458.1122

thegilmorecollection.com/roses

If I could own one Gilmore Collection restaurant, Rose’s will be the one. I have never had a meal I didn’t like at this East Grand Rapids institution. You can’t beat the outdoor patio in the summer with Reeds Lake as the backdrop. Don’t sweat the wait times because it’s all worth it in the end.

Fricano’s Pizza Tavern

1400 Fulton St., Grand Haven

616.842.8640

5808 Alpine NW, Comstock Park

616.785.5800

fricanospizza.com

I have a goal of trying out every pizza place in town this year, but to date, I haven’t found a better pizza than Fricano’s. This no frills pizza joint is a West Michigan treat with several locations in the region. The original tavern in Grand Haven gives you another reason to visit this beach community in the summer. The EBA (everything but anchovies) is a keeper.

The Sleeper

Mia and Grace

1133 3^rd St., Muskegon

231.725.9500

miaandgrace.com

The West Michigan foodie world has been buzzing about this Muskegon restaurant for months now. I finally had the opportunity to experience the food when my 12-year old daughter and I decided to enjoy a late lunch one Saturday afternoon. The Farm Egg BLT with house-cured bacon is deadly delicious. The entire seasonal menu reads like a market stand. Mia and Grace gives you one good reason to drive to Muskegon.

Farm Egg BLT

And 3 more worth mentioning

Viceroy, Grand Rapids – I have been a fan ever since Viceroy converted their menu and cocktail lists more like a true speakeasy versus a vegetarian restaurant posing as a prohibition watering hole.

Hercules Bar & Grill, Saugatuck – The outdoor patio is a hidden gem in the summer.

Tomukun Noodle Bar, Ann Arbor – How I wish Grand Rapids had a place like this. This Asian noodle bar will do well anywhere in America.

* As published in the Grand Rapids Press, January 1, 2012

Viceroy Lounge Finds Its Hot Spot

2011-11-26T17:37:00.001-05:00

Mixologist Steve lights up an orange for a classic cocktail twist

The Buzz: Viceroy Lounge opened as the first "legitimate" speakeasy in downtown GR.

The Vibe: It was a speakeasy dressed up as the overflow for punkish sister bar, Stella's Lounge, before its recent renovation. Former "dining area" is now part of Stella's Lounge. Thank you! The room is more intimate and definitely have that speakeasy atmosphere.

The Scene: For real cocktail connoisseurs. Young professional crowd drinking side cars and housed-infused liquors. Leave your PBR t-shirt at home.

The Food: Viceroy scrapped the foo-foo vegan dishes for classic bar dishes such as Clams Casino, Tenderloin Tips Louisianne, Escargots Echezeaux and Scotch Egg. I was too full from dinner at another establishment prior to Viceroy, but this new menu is on my hit list.

The Cocktails: My friend Sin Chun and I were enamored from watching mixologist (and I mean a real mixologist), Steve, concoct, mix and shake cocktails like a true pro. His skills are worth the price of admission. Yes, Viceroy offers beers and wines, but go big or go home.

Loved: Mixologist Steve and the lineup of the new menu.

One More Try: Soft seating by the entrance takes up too much space. Add more seats or cozier sofas.

Bonus: Jazz nights and sultry vocalist, for sure. And the code to get back in from the shared bathrooms with Stella's, 1-9-3-3.

The Wig Party

2011-11-26T16:38:00.001-05:00

Every November, Salon Centric hosts the craziest party involving 2,000 hairdressers from all over the country. When I heard the theme this year was "The Wig Party," I knew I had to check this party out with my camera in tow. I asked several of my buddies to join me for a pre-party cocktail before heading to the festivities at the Intersection club in
downtown GR. You might want to flag this event next year, however, you will need to know someone with the group to get a private party invitation.

That's me with Peg Bundy!

The Cristal Party at Cygnus 27

2011-11-25T18:45:00.000-05:00

The annual Cygnus 27 Cyg-nature Cristal Party marks the beginning of another winter party season in Grand Rapids. The city's socialites showed up in full force; drinking Cristal and dancing to the tunes of DJ Slim Tim.

Life in Grand Rapids just keeps getting better

2011-11-25T09:54:00.000-05:00

Revelers at this year's Just Wicked party (formerly the Deadutante Ball) at the JW

There isn't a better time to live in Grand Rapids than right now. Get a glimpse of what this past year has been like by reading my latest The Good Life column in Shore Magazine. Click here.

For more photos...see below

My daughter, Margaux, in front of the ArtPrize mosaic in the GR Children's Museum

Rob Bliss' 1st Electronic Music Night

Salsa Pachanga Nights at the JW

ArtPrize display in the GR Art Museum

Arthur Murray dancers perform at the JW's quarterly Pachanga parties

The new CitySen lounge at the CityFlats Hotel

Ruth's Chris Steakhouse at the Amway Grand Plaza

KO Cancer Celebrity Boxing - Jimmy Le vs Eric "EOB" O'Brien

2011-11-21T00:59:00.003-05:00

An epic battle between Jimmy "Social Dragon" Le and Eric "Irish Hand Grenade" O'Brien at the second annual Frank's Fitness KO Celebrity Boxing Event at the JW Marriott Grand Rapids. 100% of the proceeds will help kids fighting cancer at the Helen DeVos Children's Hospital.

Christmas Holiday in Buenos Aires

2011-11-20T22:38:00.000-05:00

Read about my Christmas holiday in Buenos Aires in the my Travel Column in the Grand Rapids Press by clicking here.

Click below for more photos

http://www.mlive.com/travel/index.ssf/2011/11/holiday_getaway_buenos_aires_m.html

My AHA Moment - JW Marriott Chicago

2011-11-03T02:23:00.000-04:00

The Grove Restaurant

2011-10-30T21:21:00.000-04:00

My experience at the new Grove Restaurant is one of the most impressive dining experiences I have had this year. Read the rest of my Grand Rapids Press review by clicking HERE.

CitySen Lounge at City Flats Hotel

2011-10-13T23:53:00.000-04:00

Read my Grand Rapids Press restaurant review of CitySen Lounge: http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/10/dining_out_review_citysen_loun.html

My top 10 Restaurants

2011-10-13T07:59:00.001-04:00

Here is my Top Ten Restaurants article I wrote in my travel column, The Aisle Seat, in the Grand Rapids.

http://www.mlive.com/travel/index.ssf/2011/10/culinary_travel_foodie_names_h.html

Asian's Night Out, jLe's Birthday, Philippine Madz at the JW

2011-09-16T08:04:00.000-04:00

It was another epic night at the JW Marriott as the West Michigan Asian community celebrated another ANO. This time, ANO hosted Jimmy Le's 32nd birthday along with hosting the amazing Philippine Madrigal Singers of the University of the Philippines who is in town for their concert at the Grand Rapids Public Museum tonight. The MADZ electrified the crowd when they surprised the crowd with
two impromptu songs, Man in the Mirror and Circle of Life, that left the crowd breathless.

A Steak Affair: Ruth's Chris Opens in Grand Rapids

2011-09-08T03:51:00.000-04:00

I have been to many steakhouses in the world and this Ruth's Chris located inside the Amway Grand Plaza hotel has got to be one of the sexiest joints I have ever been to. Thanks impart to the Ruth's Chris development team, the design team at the hotel and the impeccable touch of interior designer, Wendell Gooch, of Wendell Gooch Design in Chicago.

I had distinct pleasure of getting a sneak peak prior to its official opening on Monday, September 12. The staff under the leadership of veteran restauranteur, Buzz Goebel, and chef, Chris Madsen, are prepped to launch the most
anticipated restaurant opening this year; just in time for the festivities surrounding the 30th Anniversary of the Amway Grand Plaza this month and the also for the highly anticipated rush during ArtPrize 3.

I will finally have the opportunity to taste the "sizzle" this evening. If the food tastes just as amazing as the interiors, then I can comfortably say that I will be frequenting this steakhouse on a fairly regular basis.

Welcome to GR Ruth's Chris!

The Most Memorable Shrimp Cocktail in the World

2011-08-28T23:33:00.000-04:00

Residents of Indianapolis talk about the Shrimp Cocktail at St. Elmo Steak House as if it's the only thing that mattered in the city. I couldn't make it to St. Elmo's the first time I visited Indy, but I was certain not to miss the opportunity to try this supposedly incredible appetizer on my second trip this month. In fact, I went to St. Elmo's twice in a span of 24 hours.

Well, the residents are absolutely correct. This Shrimp Cocktail is the most memorable one I have ever tasted in my life. The shrimp itself is no different from most nice dining establishments - U12's. However, it's the fresh horseradish that

leaves a stamp of noteriety to this dish. A heaping mound of made-daily horseradish cocktail sauce sits on top of the shrimp to which there is no option but to try it. A boy did this dish have a lasting zinger! The horseradish climbs up your nostril so fast you really have no time to react to it. WOW! Despite the burning sensation, I couldn't have enough of the darn things.

Make sure to stop at St. Elmo on your next trip to Indy. A dose of the Shrimp Cocktail and in the words of Chef Emeril ..."BAM!" Enjoy and let me know if I was correct.