Food & Drink

We are quickly approaching what is easily the best time of year. The leaves will soon change. The temperature will soon begin a slow, yet steady, decline. The apples will ripen. THE CIDER MILLS WILL OPEN!

My limited experience outside of this lovely Great Lakes state has left me disappointed. Spending four years in Philadelphia without a single trip to a cider mill was painful. Mind you, I am not saying cider mills do not exist on that side of the world, for I am not sure if they do or not. What I do know is that if they do, they are not a big deal, and that is a shame.

I need to be careful writing this next part as it is still early in the day and I know I will be powerless to stop the onslaught of hunger that will broadside me as I describe to you the cider mill experience...

You might wonder where the attraction is for a plain cake donut. You might wonder why it is that I could make the arguement that a plain cake donut from a cider mill is a religious experience. You will definitely wonder why on earth anyone would want to eat a plain cake donut after they saw how easily a dozen of them have their way with the brown paper bag in which they are given. Grease to some is a dietary deterrent. When addressing cider mill donuts, I ask you to set aside any intolerance of grease. In fact, I am not sure grease would be the word for what it that seeps from the donuts to saturate the paper bag. If I had to use a better word, "Nectar" comes to mind. Delicious, it's that simple.

I've not even flirted with the topic of the cider itself yet and already I salivate. Imagine this sweet elixir of life as fresh as it is available. Cider is available in all major grocery stores in all markets in the country, that is common knowledge, but not like this. The ability to buy your cider from the mill is getting your product direct. It is purchasing the highest quality product available.

The donuts and the cider make an excellent snack, though there is no need to stop there. Cider mills are simply store fronts for the apple orchards themselves. This means a fortunate surpluss of apples to be transformed into candy and caramel apples.

It does not get better than this.

Many, it would appear, are open until November 28th!
Find one near you (SE Michigan only).

(I'm hungry)

Lunch today, I have to say was INCREDIBLE. Sure Qdoba always performs, that is not news to anyone, but today was different. We (Wil and I) went through the usual routine:

• walk in
• place my order
• hand my Qcard to the employee

But this is where things got odd. Wil tells the girl at the register he'd like an order of chips. Whilst he ponders what salsa he wants to accompany the chips she chimes in, "Would you like salsa or queso?"
Needless to say he opted for the queso and it was glorious. My chicken queso burrito (no beans) and an order of chips and queso? Forget about it.