Mikey's Drive In, Bridgman Michigan

One of the favorite things of The Steve and Mary Show, aka, Champagne and LaLuna is to take long drives on the weekends up the Red Arrow Highway. We wind our way through New Buffalo, through Bridgman, sometimes stopping off at St. Joe MI, or travel up to South Holland. (on more adventurous days we go even farther, oooh ah!) We have our favorite places to stop in. For Steve it is ice cream and books. For me, well, I just enjoy being out and about with Steve.

All winter long Steve has waited patiently to make it over to one of his favorite places to get soft serve. Mikey's Drive In, along Red Arrow Highway in Bridgman Michigan. A quaint little ¨Mom and Pop¨ place where they still have car hops, AND homemade pie along with a very fine soft-serve ice cream.

Steve's long awaited treat was delivered in good form. Imagine our added pleasure to pay only $5.32 for a VERY large chocolate ice cream cone and a large hot caramel sundae with whipped cream and nuts! The sweet taste of success was not only well received by our palettes, but also by our wallets.

It is nice to know that you can still go out on a Saturday drive and not work over time for the next week, just to pay for a special treat. We will be back many times this summer and we will grow sad when they close down for the long cold Southwestern Michigan winters.

Michiana's Best Bagel and Lox! Casual Chef Cafe

The Casual Chef Cafe, associated with the Pumpernickel Inn in Union Pier Michigan is the closest to New York style bagel and lox that we have found in the Michiana area. Not only is their food fresh it is served by people who seem to care more about the customer than their cell phones, or privte conversations! What is also wonderful about the dish is that is served layered with cucumbers. This added touch when blended with fresh lox, large bagels (of your choosing) red onion, capers (the petite kind my favorite) and all the usual fixings. The coffee they brew serve is Starbucks for a little added kick. All of their freshly made cuisine is a masterpiece. Feel like some gelato or maybe an amazing over-sized brownie? They know how to please the palette! Very reasonably priced!

Patricia's Chocolates, A New ArtSees Diner Favorite

It was a wonderful Saturday. Like many Saturdays,Steve and I look forward to our drives up Red Arrow Highway. We visit either St. Joe's Michigan or South Haven. (We often times stop off at many places along the way as well) This particular day we chose St. Joseph Michigan. As we drove into town I saw the White Pine Winery Tasting Room, and it called me by name, "Mary, Mary!" I meandered in and Steve went across the street to a book store, (his favorite thing to do.) I was quickly treated like royalty by Sandy and she began to talk her wine. She is the co-owner with husband Dr. David Miller. We shared some conversation about wine, my desire to become more knowledgeable about wine, and especially regional wines. It was after sampling their amazing wine that I was introduced to Patricia's Chocolate. In particular the "Vintner's Choice" I purchased my own little treats to enjoy with my new bottle of White Pine Wine. I chose the Red Wines selection and enjoyed for a couple days nibbles of Blueberry~Tellieherry~ peppercorn Ganache, and Plum~Current Ganache, Cherry~Hibiscus Ganache, Allspice ~Balsamic Ganache, each one perfectly placed and decorated with intricate little designs. I once again felt like I was royalty!