Downtown Dates: Nest at Crow’s Nest

The pesto makes the meal go “Presto!”

Veg Out, the series of veggie-friendly yums around West Michigan continues.

Destination and Meal #2

Down and Around from Crow’s Nest

This magical wrap of flavor is sure to please. My tummy is still happy from last night’s grub-fest on one of my favorite menu items from Crow’s Nest.

Baked marinated tofu, fresh spinach, tomatoes, caramelized onions, their in-house basil pesto and melted Wisconsin havarti wrapped in a whole wheat lawash. I’m pretty sure all of this was written in someone’s description of the wonderful afterlife. Or at least it should have been included.

The pesto is amazing and the tofu is always juicy and flavorful. Perfect for people who love or used to love meat.

Vegan friendly? Not quite. But you could ask for it without the havarti, a Danish cheese.

Possible sides? The French fries are yummy and stay warm surprisingly long. My friend Jackie adds a little Frank’s Hot Sauce to the ketchup for a spicy zing in every bite. They also have a good coleslaw with cranberries. It won me over and I am not a coleslaw fan.

Beverage choices? With a coffee house, Fourth Coast, right underneath them, the beverage options are endless. Try fizzy sodas, tea (the green chai tea is amazing cold), variations of coffee, juice, milk, or water. I don’t suggest the smoothies because they aren’t made with real fruit, which was disappointing and unsuspected from the artistic, health-conscious establishment, but hey. The smoothie I had was chunky with ice and more like an oversweetened 7-Eleven slushy.

Cost out of the door? $9 even after they add tax. But they give plenty of fries, so I can never finish the entire thing.

Crow’s Nest is on Westnedge just past Vine is you are headed toward Portage. They are housed above Fourth Coast. The parking lot is full of potholes, so beware. The staff is friendly. Art on the walls is always local and amazing. You have to walk through the kitchen to get to the bathroom, so no secrets going on back there.

Dead crows, but look closely. This art is made out of recycled tires. A statement that even the least favored of nature are eco-friendly, though inherently evil. Has nothing to do with the grub at Crow's Nest though.

 

Downtown Dates: Catch Fire with Soul Rebels

This band brings classic hits, new sound, a lot of energy — and basically, all that jazz.

Soul Rebels Brass Band is a New Orleans jazz band with a big sound and a lot of heart. Their energetic take on music and performance keeps the nightlife extended into the wee hours. Wear that old pair of shoes, because this band promises to keep you dancing until your soul and soles breaks free.

I know what you are thinking: New Orleans is not close. But, Sept. 1 it will be closer than you think. Soul Rebels will perform at Rose Street Market, 303 N. Rose St. (which houses Just Good Food in the basement, so expect a preview of their tasty grub) at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $12.

Can’t wait until 7:30? Sit down and talk to Soul Rebels at Fire Historical and Cultural Arts Collaborative (1249 Portage Rd.). They will be discussing the role of art in revitalizing community. This 5 p.m. talk should get you in good with the band and give you some intellectual pointers. You will be able to brag to your friends about how down to earth these guys are and how you just rubbed elbows. Oh yes, they will be jealous.

On their website Soul Rebels boast,  ”If jazz music is the heart of New Orleans, then the Soul Rebels’ music is the blood that it pumps through the city’s body.”

And they have reason to brag. Have you heard them? Horns! Drums! The thump-thump thump of African, Spanish and Creole influences rattle in the air and crash you into a lively celebration of noise, power and belly-belting harmony. Your fingers will snap, toes will tap and head will bob. Pretty soon, you won’t know what came over you as you find your body wiggling across the dance floor with the ease and sole-lead intention of  Savion Glover.

But, Soul Rebels will tell you what has happened: You have just become a part of a Rebelution.

But don’t take my word for it. Listen and learn: soulrebelsbrassband.com or on YouTube.com.

Tickets can be purchased at thisisfire.com.

 

Downtown Dates: Get choked up at Tap House

OK. I am always trying to start a series. In addition to the Downtown Dates and Back in 24, there will be a new series called Veg Out. It will be all about where to dine out if you are vegetarian or interested in vegetarian meals.

Earlier this week, you heard about Fuel, the new and only all-vegetarian restaurant opening in Kalamazoo next month. But since eating is a daily requirement, you might need to know your options before then. So, my gift to you: a guide to the veggie-friendly yums in West Michigan. Please, hold your applause until the end. 

Destination and Meal #1

Spinach and Artichoke from Central City Tap House

I know it’s not a full meal, but man is it good. The artichokes taste fresh and the cheese is not overly salted or too heavy. It’s big enough to share as well.

Served with blue corn chips, it makes my belly happy. But the chips are heavily salted, so if you are cutting back on the sodium, request bread. There aren’t too many other scooping options if you are avoiding carbs. My suggestion is get it to-go and have it with veggie chips or sliced peppers.

Vegan friendly? Nope. The cheese is definitely real.

Possible sides? I wanted a side of asparagus, one of my favorite vegetables. But BEWARE. The asparagus is cooked in chicken broth. For what reason? I have no idea. And they don’t tell you that it is. So whenever ordering veggies at Tap House, ask how they are cooked.

Beverage choice? Keep is cheap with water, or do like me and spleach (splurge on the cheap) with a high-quality PBR for $2. Have a little cash on hand? Be sure to try some of Tap House’s many choices of beer. They will bring you a sample if you can’t decide.

Cost out of the door? Less than $10. So your wallet and belly leave happy.

Central City Tap House is on Kalamazoo Mall just before Lovell inside the Epic Center. They have great outdoor sitting (no beer outside), a dimly-lit enclosed patio, and indoor seating with high, half-booth tables, low tables and bar seating. Televisions line the bar. Music is usually soft or slightly pop rock. The staff is always great!

Check out more at http://www.millenniumrestaurants.com/.

 

All vegetarian restaurant ready to Fuel Kalamazoo

Three months ago, I gave up meat — all of it. I recently visited a Coney Island hoping to grab a veggie burger and continue on with my busy day. But, the only thing close to vegetarian-friendly garb on their menu were starchy fries and a pathetic side salad. Not all Coney Islands are so limited in their non-meat offerings, but it got me thinking: What if there were a restaurant where I had my choice of anything on the menu?

Well, the veggie god must have heard and answered my prayer because an all-vegetarian restaurant is opening its doors in Kalamazoo next month.

Fuel, with the tagline “unpredictably vegetarian,” is predictable in one area — there is no meat on the menu. What’s great about this restaurant though is it will not focus on the overdone vegetarian staples: tofu, veggie burgers, hummus and chunky mushrooms. Not to knock those classic dishes, but aren’t you ready for a new experience? I am!

Fuel will deliver a world-wide platter of overseas taste made with local ingredients to keep your belly happy, conscious clear and local produce handlers employed. Rest easy after eating Cajun, African, Jamaican, and Southern-inspired meals.

Want a taste? Check out Fuel’s table at Elevation this Saturday (Aug. 13) from 5 p.m. to midnight on the top of the Radisson Parking Structure. Find all the details on Paragon. An article was written up last week previewing this family-friendly party on the roof.

For a closer look at their menu, visit thisisfuel.com. Here are a few things I am excited about:

Salads made with the freshest vegetable of the day. These green fixtures are in season and ever-changing to give you variety and excitement. Go with nature.

Vegan gumbo is just the right spice for this foodie. I plan to hear the jazz rattling in my ears with every bite of this Cajun fantasy.

Vegan mac and cheese is a treat for everyone. If your taste is American but you don’t want the cow’s milk interfering with your inner peace, try this twist on the classic. Fuel will also have traditional mac and cheese or dairy-lovers.

Brandied peach gordita; with artisan ice cream & gelato pairings. Yum! Need I say more?

OK, so for those who enjoy the daily bore and simplicity of the staples, Fuel will have their unique twist on marinated tofu skewers, chickenish noodle soup and, of course, fries. Plus, Fuel’s catering arm, Bites, will deliver to your office if you can’t leave work.

Fuel is set to open three days a week this September to start. On the corner of Burdick and Alcott, it is housed in a once-Mexican restaurant and began as a gas station. Fuel has managed to take a gas guzzler and turned into a fuel-efficient, environmentally-friendly powerhouse in the Kalamazoo community. Did I mention it’s run by a highly-educated, black lesbian who has been inflicting the influence of poetry, arts and empowering youth in the community for years?

But if none of that gets you in the door, come for the taste. You will leave happy!