More memories...

After we finished our little trip down memory lane (and Gunson Street) we went back and chilled at the not so nice Fairfield for a while.  Over the past few months, through good old Facebook, we kind of revived a friendship with another classmate.  Turns out they are “wine people”, and have a place in California as well as Lansing, and we mutually decided to get together for dinner on our last evening in East Lansing.

Michigan State has a very respected Restaurant and Hospitality school, and they are centered in the school’s Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center which they run as a “ real hotel” and training facility.  It contains a restaurant (The State Room), and our friends suggested we have dinner there.   Shortly before we got fully DFD’s they called and invited us to join them in a drink at a local watering hole in East Lansing.  Why not?   So we hustled into our duds, and found

They recommended a specialty beer from Iceland (?) which I had never seen before (no wonder)

It was quite refreshing, and despite the "Blue Moon" like ingredient listed on the label it was quite subtle and understated and very good.  I don’t think I’ve seen it here in the Mid Atlantic.

 

So fortified by the pre drink we drove over on campus to the

The dining room was quite well attended, with guests who apparently were at a conference (name tags still hanging around their necks).  We were seated at a nice table and given menus and the wine list, which was well thought out, very extensive and detailed, containing a lot of interesting varieties from both the old and new world.  If you have a second (and some interest) spend a moment looking at it.  I hesitate to say it was surprising, but it was better than many, many, lists we’ve encountered elsewhere.  There were some big boy wines on it.  How often do you see two vintages of Diamond Creek on a list?  Or from the old world: Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse Lalande Grand Cru Classé 2010 Pauillac?

The menu followed suit a good variety of choices.   And as a sign of the times, entrees to which it applied, was the little “GF” symbol which are more and more prevalent.  I guess it’s a good thing. 

Anyway, we finally settled on menu choices, which of course I now forget, and got a bottle of Four Graces 2014 Willamette Valley Pinot.  Food arrived when it should, MFO’s salad

And my fish, with my "beloved" Asparagus.  

All nicely presented and very tasty, ladies served first.   Which kind of leads me into a comment on the service.  I presumed that all the servers were students, or, “college kids” as we used to call them.  I suppose they were all in the hospitality program, but they were very refreshing.  They were enthusiastic, friendly (read eye contact) and actually cared if you enjoyed your food.   Didn’t come to the table every 7 minutes asking if everything was all right, or if you were “still werkin’ on that?”, which unfortunately is more common around here…  Delightful experience and meal..

Finally, we considered the dessert list

Those of you who are/were from East Lansing might notice that “MSU Dairy Ice Cream” is on the list. MSU Dairy has been around since forever, and the ice cream enjoys (or at least used to) kind of a cult following. But we decided against it as our friends invited us out to their house for a capper glass of wine.  They have a lovely house on the Grand River in Lansing, with a lot of art on display.   We very much enjoyed a glass of 2012 Denner Syrah, great stuff.  

Unfortunately, while we were enjoying dinner, there was a storm that blew through and upset many of the plants on their deck.

 

A great way to end our re-visit to our home town, enhanced by seeing people we went to high school (class of ’59!!) with.  Somehow gratifying to see that we still have bonds with them even though the world has turned many times…

As an interesting note, those that still live in East Lansing is having a “greater than 50 year” class reunion TODAY.  As time goes by, having a single year class reunion isn't real rewarding, hence expanding the base.  Obviously, MFO and I will not be able to attend, but maybe a few of the “East Lansing High School Trojans” will enjoy the fellowship.  After our experience recently renewing acquaintances makes us wish we could be there even more.  Enjoy and hope you are

DFD

and despite promises, looks like returning to the digs will require another posting..