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For my birthday, my entire family usually comes up to Ann Arbor and we go to a nice restaurant. In recent years, it’s been the Gandy Dancer or the Chop House. This year, when my mother called and asked me where I wanted to go, I suggested the West End Grill or Pacific Rim, slightly different than the usual Main Street  ventures but still great quality. However, I failed to tell her that the weekend of my birthday was the Purdue game and Parent’s Weekend. So when she tried to make a reservation, she was denied at both places. She then tried another eight restaurants and all were booked solid during dinner hours. She was finally able to get us a table at Weber’s, a steakhouse just outside downtown Ann Arbor. The only thing I knew about Weber’s was their ridiculous billboard “Meat with Friends.” Naturally, I was a bit disappointed and wasn’t expecting much from the dinner.  I was very wrong though as Weber’s turned out to be a total winning experience.
 
 
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Picture from March of the Dimes Signature Chef Auction
 I recently had the opportunity to sit down with restaurant chef/ owner of Grange Kitchen and Bar’s, Brandon Johns. A former UofM graduate and Wolverine football player, Johns adds a unique flavor to Ann Arbor’s restaurant scene. Through innovative and eco-friendly culinary creations such as brioche crusted walleye and French fries fried in duck fat, Johns’ ingenuity rises supremely among the monotony of other menus around town.
      Chef Johns began his restaurant career as a waiter during college and quickly moved on to working as a chef at Real Seafood Company in Ann Arbor. He says that by “working hard, showing up, and possessing some skill,” he was able to work toward his desire to become a chef. After learning that he had a passion for working with food, Johns moved to New York City to attend the Institute of Culinary Education.  He claims, “It was one of the best decisions I ever made.” This definitive statement highlights the impact that culinary school training had on his future. Johns went on to say that working as a chef in The Big Apple opened many doors for him and gave him numerous connections.  He also commented, though on the grueling almost hazing-like process of working tirelessly for long hours to make salads and other less interesting dishes while working his way up in the restaurant business. With little or no pay to start out, Johns pointed out how much passion he needed to remain interested in the culinary world.
 
 
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The worlds of Syrian cuisine and French baking are not often intertwined, but the so aptly named Exotic Bakeries and Syrian Cuisine proves that this combination can stimulate the pleasure receptors of most every taste bud residing in a college student’s mouth.  Often overlooked, this walk-in sandwich and dessert shop has subsisted for almost 20 years under the masterful guise of Jinan Elkhatib and his wife Monib.  Through providing enormous portions teeming with overwhelming quality, this couple has captured the hearts of savvy Ann Arbor foodies for years.

Located in the plaza at the intersection of Murfin and Plymouth Road, just beyond North Campus, Exotic Bakeries and Syrian Cuisine is a positive island among the sea of negatives that is North Campus living.  For $6-10, a guest can receive any permutation of sandwiches or combos involving shawarma, kafta, tabbouli, hommous, kibbee, and all the other Middle-Eastern favorites that make its cuisine so delectable.  Jinan or his wife will assemble the food right in front of you, heaping on enough tantalizing ingredients to make you wonder why you would ever spend $7 on a Panchero’s burrito again.
 
 
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If you are anything like me, you are a poor college student for whom late night Jimmy Johns and two dollar lattes at Espresso Royale are pretty much the most you’ll spend when it comes to eating out. You may, however, be lucky enough to have parents who come into town and treat you to a nice dinner every once in a while, whether it be for a birthday or another special occasion. The question then arises, “Where should I take them?” While many of you simply resort to the classic Chop House or Gandy Dancer, I like to look beyond those popular ones. While those restaurants do provide you with the aura of a special occasion, there are many other restaurants that provide a new experience for a similar price. One of these restaurants is Logan, a fine American Dining facility on West Washington, just past Main Street. I had the chance to dine there last week with my mother, who gray offered to provide me a meal other than the usual Ramen noodles...
 
 
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Solociccia. Quite possibly the best restaurant in the world. This is no exaggeration. In Italy, specifically Panzano, there is a butcher by the name of Dario Cecchini who owns and runs a restaurant called Solocicca. The restaurant is designed in a very original way - it's a house with several different tables in separate unique rooms...