“Always drink your best beer,” says my buddy Chad Harder. “That way, you will always be drinking your best beer.” This mantra is as close to religion as he may ever get. Its wisdom is available to all, including non-beer drinkers like myself. But as a wine drinker, I have faced similar calculations when deciding which bottle to drink, and Harder’s algorithm takes all the stress and guesswork out of that ordeal. Don’t overthink it. Drink your best stuff. Always. That’s it. more

A breakfast chain opening a new restaurant in Okemos next month reportedly donated thousands of dollars to President Donald Trump. more

Your brewery has a mug club, but how about a crochet club? Sure, you’ve got the game on, but before kickoff, when is the local artist’s reception? How about a Thursday night bingo game that’s so crowded it’s standing room only? more

Chocolate and pumpkin pie make a special combination. And since I love pumpkin pie but am weary of making pie crust, messing around with Oreo-crusted pumpkin pie is one of my favorite Thanksgiving … more

It’s a sign of maturity to be able to admit you’re wrong, and I’m hopefully creeping a bit closer to behaving like an actual adult by acknowledging that I had it all wrong about … more

I had given up on bok choy, because I was caught in a rut, adding it to my soggy stir-fry and not much else. I felt bad about it, because the truth is, I wasn’t giving up on bok choy. What’s there to give up on? Bok choy is delicious, versatile and blameless. more

At an overpriced tapas joint, I once took a chance on charred cucumber salad. The dish sounded counterintuitive, to put it delicately, because everyone knows cucumber should be served cool. Cooking a … more

“The first time I tried your dad’s salad,” my friend Terrie recalled, “my eyes popped open, my mouth was burning, and I was like, ‘What the ... ’” more

Detroit Frankie’s Pizza and Deli, which has served wood-fired pizza fare in various locations for several years, and Good Truckin’ Diner, which started tickling palates literally as a truck and then as a diner in REO Town, are partners in yum. more

It would take me multiple pages to express my love for The Avenue Cafe, a dive bar and music venue on East Michigan Avenue. I can get a 16-ounce beer for $4, test my knowledge of various topics in weekly trivia, enjoy live performances by some of my favorite local bands — often for free — and put all my loose quarters to use at the plethora of pinball machines. more

  Heffron Farms is just under 50 miles away from Lansing, but its new meat delivery service is set on closing that distance. On Tuesday (Nov. 21), the farm made its weekly pilgrimage … more

Texas grapefruit is in season and on sale at my local bodega. The bittersweet, ruby-fleshed orbs look shrunken and beat up, which is not necessarily a bad thing. On the contrary, it may mean they’re ripe. more

While driving to Crunchy’s in East Lansing to meet up with my family for a holiday gift exchange that was postponed by a COVID outbreak, I noticed that Dave’s Hot Chicken had opened its doors on Albert Avenue. Though I was already on my way to chow down on a bacon cheeseburger, I made a mental note to return the next time I was feeling too lazy to cook. more

I recently visited Fall River, a sleepy fishing town on the Rhode Island border whose long-established Portuguese community has made it the capital of Portuguese seafood in North America. There, amid … more

As a public service, City Pulse is compiling a list of restaurants that are open for carryout and delivery. more

This potato thing sizzled into my life when my 6-year-old decided to cook a potato. more

I’m not exactly sure how Lucky’s Steakhouse in Okemos has managed to escape my culinary radar over the last four years, but I’m sure glad that a random pitstop at a neighboring … more

When my uncle traveled abroad to serve in the Peace Corps during the ‘90s, he met a Thai woman who generously taught her language to the Americans. more

DeAnna Ray-Brown’s long shifts at Enterprise Rent-A-Car often left her tired and stressed out. When she finally returned home, Ray-Brown found her favorite way to blow off steam was to bake. more

For those in search of comfort food without the guilt, a new option has risen over Great Lansing. SunChef Kitchen Food Truck — a colorful truck adorned with a vibrantly painted sunset — has plenty of both vegetarian and meat dishes to choose from.  more