Kenya is known for its talented long-distance runners (Eliud Kipchoge, anyone?) and rich wildlife heritage, but did you know it’s home to some of East Africa’s most diverse dishes?

After my step-grandfather retired he and my grandmother, Shirley, moved over 200 miles northwest of Detroit to a small town. Lewiston has a tiny population of 1,289 and sits in the broad Michigan region lovingly labeled “Up North.”

I’m here to tell you that garnishes do not have to be fussy. They can be, but they don’t have to be. If you’re cooking at home, you want to find creative ways to dress up your meals without extra effort. 

It’s that time of year again. Snowflakes are falling, stockings are making their way over the mantel, and kitchens around the world are heating up for the festivities ahead.

Once upon a time when I served in a downtown Chicago hotel bar and historical landmark, I had zero idea what the build for a Last Word cocktail was.

Coney Island means something very different to a New Yorker versus a Michigander.  The use I am most familiar with refers to a chain of Greek diners in and around Detroit, Michigan.

Like all good Michiganders, I raise my left hand and point to signify where I am from. After a little over six years in Chicago, and two in the Twin Cities, it has been nearly a decade since I have lived in Michigan.