Yates Cider Mill in Rochester Hills, MI - REVIEW

With the changing of the leaves comes fall traditions, and one of the major ones is cider and warm donuts. The DIVAS were ready, and off we went to the Yates Cider Mill, in Rochester Hills, Michigan. It's a great place to walk around in the woods and enjoy nature. What really makes it the best is the relaxing nostalgia of enjoying a place like you did when you were a kid.

Yates Cider Mill is a Michigan landmark and a registered historic site. It was originally built in 1863 as a grist mill to grind grain into flour. They have progressed to apple cider, beginning in 1876. Their mill is powered by the Clinton River, and the traditions at Yates have not changed much since then.

You will find the Yates Cider Mill alongside the Clinton River, across from Yates and Bloomer Parks, and it joins with a Shelby Township walking trail. There are more than 1200 acres total. The best time to visit is in the fall, when you can take a tour of the cider-making operation.

There is no longer an orchard on site, they have their apples shipped in on a flatbed truck from Michigan orchards near and far. As each week passes, different apple varieties can be blended to round-out the taste. By mid October, as many as six different types of apples are intermixed. They do press the apples on site, to make their delicious cider. Their cider is made without preservatives and is an excellent source of fiber.  Cider isn't all they do at Yates. They make their own assortment of apple pies, apple turnovers, caramel apples, apple butters, delicious types of fudge, ice cream, jams and jellies.  We purchased a hunk of caramel fudge for later, it tasted amazing.  

We were able to visit Yates one morning during the week, as we don't like waiting in lines. Traffic was not a problem and we were able to park close, had no line at the counter, and we walked around and enjoyed the peace and quiet of the river. Weekends are packed with long lines everywhere, but they do move quickly. There are lots of things to do for kids on the weekends. There are pony rides and a petting zoo with goats and other outdoor entertainment. They can enjoy the railroad crossing lights and bells, announcing the Pulp Car hauling its load to the dumping area. The Apple Tent is also open on the weekends, with a great selection of the best fall fruit, meat and cheese snacks, candy, gifts and apparel.

The workers at the inside counter will sell you whatever you might need for a nice picnic snack to take outside. Cider is sold in different sized containers and free plastic glasses are available on the wall by the counter. There are lots of picnic tables and benches outside on the property. But be prepared for the bees, they love buzzing around open cider and they appear instantly when you open your jug.

It is the perfect place to walk the nature trail along the river and enjoy the beautiful fall colors. The cider, the smell of the warm, fresh donuts, the sound of the water wheel... it would not be Fall without a visit to Yates.  

The Undercover Divas loved the visit.  You will, too!!

Yates Cider Mill's fall hours are Monday – Friday – 7am – 7pm and weekends – 9am – 7pm. The Mill is located at Dequindre and Avon Roads (23 Mile Rd.) in Rochester Hills. They are just 35 minutes north of Downtown Detroit in Oakland County.  

Big Al's Firehouse Restaurant in Shelby Township, MI - REVIEW

We were passing through Shelby Township at lunchtime and the DIVAS were hungry. As we reached the corner of Schoenherr and 22 Mile Rd. in northern Macomb County, we noticed Big Al's Firehouse in the strip mall. Lots of cars in the lot so we decided to stop and try something new.  

We were greeted at the door, and directed through a bar area where people were having a good time watching a Detroit Tigers game on the TV. The hostess led us to the main room to be seated. There was a small salad bar on the back wall and firehouse memorabilia decorated the room. It was a bit past lunchtime and there were still lots of customers. Our waitress brought us a “bag” of hot rolls and an assortment of butter and a ranch spread for the bread, they were very tasty.  

There were a number of lunch plates on the menu, but I decided to try a daily special, which was a half slab of BBQ ribs with Big Al's special sauce ($11.00). The rib plate came with two pieces of Texas Toast, and the Texas buttered toast was almost as good as the ribs. The rib plate included a trip to the salad bar. The other DIVA had a BBQ Brisket and Cheddar sandwich with fries. It also included either a trip to the salad bar or a bowl of homemade soup ($10.00). The ribs were mouthwatering, and the brisket was delicious.

Big Al perfected his rib recipe cooking for the guys at a firehouse when he was a fireman. With his refined skills, he opened Big Al's Firehouse Restaurant. The tender meaty bones of these ribs are smoked with his secret dry rub. I was glad I ordered the ribs because they were really fall-off-the-bone good, with his signature sweet sauce.

Service was quick and friendly. The food was really good, portions were large and prices were reasonable. Everything from the salad bar to the sandwiches were fresh and appetizing. Big Al's Firehouse Restaurant is located at 49035 Schoenherr in Shelby Township, Michigan. They are open seven days a week for lunch and dinner.  

The Iron Kettle in Lewiston, MI, and Sunflower Farms - REVIEW

Lewiston is a small town, located in the northeast area of lower Michigan. The town was named after Lewis Jenson of the M.H. Lumber company, in 1891. The lumber boom ended shortly thereafter but logging continues in the area. It is being done very selectively, to preserve and protect the remaining old-growth forests. You can find just about anything in this little town. While visiting Lewiston, The Undercover Divasdecided to visit one of our favorite family style restaurants, a small diner called the Iron Kettle. They serve breakfast, lunch, dinner, and anything in between.  

The Iron Kettle is open all day, all year round, unlike most restaurants that cut back hours during the off season. Their great soup and salad bar is the reason we chose the Iron Kettle. That was probably our biggest disappointment. What used to be great was now only average. There was a bowl of lettuce, but nothing appetizing to help dress it up. Side pasta salads and extras were a letdown. But there was a good choice of home-made salad dressings. What saved the soup and salad bar was the soup. The Iron Kettle has some of the best hot soups anywhere, and we've been many places. The soup of the day is your only choice, and it was chicken rice, and delicious, and the price of the salad bar ($2.99) was still a bargain.  

The menu is extensive, with just about every type of diner food you could imagine. There is also a menu board when you enter the restaurant, listing the day's specials. I usually get the dinner special, which often is the fish of the day, and have never been disappointed.

We arrived at noon and found some appetizing lunch specials. One DIVA had the South West Chicken sandwich with fries ($6.99) I had the Turkey Club with their kettle chips ($7.50). Both were really good.

It's not a steak house, you can find that next door at the Redwood Steak House, but a home-cooking diner. Lots of country people, in the middle of farm country, gave the place it's charm. Dress was definitely jeans. It's great to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big cities and just breath the clean air and enjoy the fresh, country atmosphere.

We have always experienced fast and friendly service at the Iron Kettle. Portions are large and prices are reasonable. The Iron Kettle is located at 4737 Salling Ave. (Co. Rd. 612), in the heart of downtown Lewiston. They open every day, seven days a week, at 6am, for good, hearty, country breakfasts. It's well worth a stop by.   

Special Attention: Acres upon acres of sunflowers, with fully bloomed flowers... It's beautiful indeed! If you are like us, you love the sunflowers and how nice is it to run into actual sunflower farms. That's just what happened to us as we were driving up north. Fairview, Michigan, is home to several sunflower farms along with an Amish community. Located in Comins Township within Oscoda Township, centered in the Huron Nation Forest, it runs along the Au Sable River. Wildlife are nearby, including bear, deer, eagles, Kirtland's Warblers and wild turkeys. We passed the farms while driving north on M33 after exiting I-75 at Exit 202 (Alger). The farms were just north of Mio, and there were a couple of them. What a sight to behold!!

Capers Steakhouse in Detroit - REVIEW

Hello again my Diva friends. We really have a good one for you today. The Undercover Divas traveled to 7 Mile and Gratiot, in Detroit. We have heard good things about a restaurant called Capers Steakhouse. This restaurant sells and prepares steaks by the ounce. Delmonico ($.85 per oz.), New York Strip ($.85 per oz.), Filet ($1.65 per oz.) and most others, subject to market availability. What a great idea for all types of appetites, the hungry to those with the small appetite.

We walked in and a nice young lady greeted us. We decided to sit near the bar so that we could get a view of the whole place. It was pretty full when we arrived, a Saturday afternoon. Often, you can tell what type of restaurant it is by how many are waiting to get in.

They have a great variety to their menu: ribs, shrimp, chicken, pork chops. They also have a few different types of fish dishes, including Icelandic cod, salmon, shrimp and cat fish (southern fried.) They also have sandwiches, burgers and Spaghetti. We were greeted by our waiter, Nathan, and told to take our time deciding what we wanted, so we ordered drinks and looked through the menu.

We noticed two customers at the bar getting ready to be served huge, impressive drinks. Intrigued, we asked what it was. Get ready for this, it’s called the Shady Lady Strawberry Margarita ( 8 shots of liquor and priced at $16.) It looked amazing and it was served by Ray, one of the waiters.

When Nathan brought our drinks, we were ready to order. Gini ordered French onion soup loaded with cheese and croutons ($3.75) the New York Steak medium well, baked potato ($3.25) and a side of broccoli . Suse ordered the Filet with red skinned potatoes ($2.50) and an individual salad ($3.95 build your own). I had my favorite the Delmonico with Cajun spice done medium well, the baked potato, and garlic bread ($.60). (Note: The have an excellent mushroom soup, but it's not available on the weekends.) To my surprise, Nathan didn’t write anything down, which amazed all three of us, as everything came just the way we asked for it.

Oh my goodness my steak melted in my mouth, I enjoyed my meal so much. Nathan, along with other wait staff, were very friendly and always asked if we needed anything. Very nice service. After dinner was complete we were asked about dessert. They had a Capers Brownie, hot fudge brownie, carrot cake, cheese cake and Apple Pie, the prices range from $1.55 to $5.25. Unfortunately we were too full to dive in for the sweet tooth we all have.  Our total bills ran about $15 a person.  

All in all what a great experience. The wait staff, the food and the hustle and bustle of a full restaurant was worth writing about. Capers is located at 14726 Gratiot Avenue , near 7 Mile, in Detroit. It's easy to find, look for a large red awning. It is not a good area of Detroit, but there is secured, attended parking on the side and behind Capers for added customer safety. Their hours of operations are M-Thursday from 11am to 11pm, Friday 11am to midnight, Saturday noon to midnight, and Sunday 3pm to 10pm.

The “Cheers” atmosphere, quality and quantity of food, and value of service make Capers a winner. If you are a steak lover and don’t want to pay an arm and a leg at other steak establishments, give Capers Steakhouse a try, you won’t be disappointed.

Special Attention: It's always good to have that go-to place when you need a breakfast at 3am or maybe a dessert with friends. We found just the place. They never close, it's a 24/7/365 restaurant and they are located everywhere. The DIVAS hit the Denny's in Roseville (just south of Macomb Mall on Gratiot) and had desssert and coffee, 'cause that's what we wanted. You can go at 3 am, 3 pm or any time in between and find a bustling restaurant with an extensive menu. A go-to place, ready to meet your hunger needs, at any time.   

HAPPINESS - A Choice!

Life is what happens as we are planning our future. Many of us make the mistake of believing that all of our expectations will happen down the road, as we prepare for what we expect our life to be. We believe that once we get there, everything will be perfect and we will finally be happy. We forget that there is much to be gained if we enjoy our journey as we are living our life. We should revel in every moment that we're moving toward that higher goal. We need to enjoy the accomplishments we gain while we achieve our goals. We should make it a worthwhile journey, and in doing this, we will savor the end result that much more.

The most important thing we need to understand about Happiness is that it is a choice we make from moment to moment. We should try to not let the little things bother us because this will block the happiness we would otherwise feel. Embrace happiness, smile, and enjoy the moment.  As The Undercover Divas, we enjoy happiness when we discover and experience new things and then share those experiences with others through our blog.  It is a hobby that makes us happy.  Try finding something that you love doing, and enjoy that time while you experience doing it.  And don't forget to always be kind to one another.  

Author Carol Holmes said, “A happy life is made up of little things: a gift sent, a letter written, a call made, a recommendation given, transportation provided, a cake made, a book lent, a check sent.” Success and happiness is not in getting rich or rising high to fame. Happiness comes when we are big of heart, and clean and broad in mind. It is being faithful to your friends, and to the stranger, be kind. Learn to enjoy the little things, there are so many of them.

A hidden part of us rejoices when we reach out to one another in everyday life. We search for happiness in romance, achievements, possessions, exciting experiences, and all of these bring us some satisfaction, but not enough to bring us real joy. When we help others, we receive happiness back, tenfold. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude.

Tin Fish Restaurant in St. Clair Shores, MI and Mastro's Ice Cream Shoppe - REVIEW

Hello, all my Divettes, this is Annod again with a review that has been a long time coming. Myself and the other Undercover Divas, Suse and Gini, just love the water so we decided to try the Tin Fish, located on a canal in St. Clair Shores. It is so close to the water, just what we were looking for.

Upon entering the restaurant, we were disappointed at the response we received by two young ladies at the front desk. They were more interested in speaking to each other than they were in greeting us. We were told “there is a 30 minute wait,” even though there were lots of empty tables. We wanted to sit out on the deck but the clouds were looming and we wanted to enjoy our meal inside. Twenty minutes later we were seated in the dining room on the right. There was a huge “Tin Fish” hanging from the ceiling, and the booths were all decorated with a nautical flair and curtains for privacy. Gini was so impressed she took a few pictures for this post.

Our waitress, Ariana, was a joy. The menu had a great variety of choices, from fish to Filet Mignon and salads to pastas. I decided to try the Panko Encrusted Tilapia with asparagus and red skin potatoes. She was fine with my substitution of mashed potatoes ($12.00) Suse ordered the Pecan Pickerel, French green beans and red skinned potatoes ($14.00) Gini had the Tin Fish & Chips with seasoned fries ($10.00). Most meals are available as half servings for half price. They call it the Seniors Discount but it was available for all, if you really want a half order. Even though we are too young for the Senior Discount, we did take advantage of the offer.

To start the meal, Suse and I ordered the Wedge Salad with crumbled blue cheese dressing (small portion, $4.00). The dressing was amazing. Gini had the French Onion soup, which was good, but a little small for the price ($5.00). Ariana brought our salads and soup and some homemade rolls.

When our food came, it looked like it was pulled from a magazine! My tilapia was mouthwatering, it fell apart. Suse enjoyed her Pecan Pickerel, and Gini loved her beer battered cod (a little too much breading, though) and liked the seasoned fries. We all enjoyed our meals, but the consensus was that prices were a bit high for what you got, and half orders were just that, half a meal.

Ariana brought over a tray of desserts. They looked amazing but we had our minds set on frozen yogurt, which was located across the street from the Tin Fish. What started out as a dud in the beginning, turned out to be an enjoyable meal and great service. Thanks, Ariana! As a side bar, we think they should monitor the outside of the restaurant as we witnessed several females that were so drunk, one fell in the street. Thank goodness a cab showed up and, hopefully, drove them home.

The Tin Fish is located at 24420 Jefferson Ave., (north of 9 Mile Rd.) in St. Clair Shores, MI. Hours: Sunday through Thursday, Noon to 9pm. - Friday and Saturday, 11am to Midnight. Their phone number: 586/778-8330.

Special Attention: Now on to dessert. Just outside the long ride out of the Marina from the Tin Fish, and across Jefferson, we headed to an Ice Cream/Yogurt shop called Mastro's, for dessert. They have everything needed for a treat after a great meal. Stroh's Ice Cream and Frozen Yogurt (my favorite) with all the toppings, was featured. They had regular cones, waffle cones, chocolate with sprinkles cones, soft serve ice cream, and many flavors of ice cream by the scoop. Prices are reasonable and your taste buds go crazy. What a successful evening for all three of us.

Tuesdays at Eastern Market, Detroit, Michigan

Looking for somewhere fun to go on Tuesdays? Why not try Detroit's Eastern Market. Parking is not as congested as Saturday mornings, and there are less vendors, but you can still find everything there on Tuesdays that you find on Saturdays.

Eastern Market is the largest historic market in the country, a 4.5 acre display of the freshest fruits and vegetables in the metro Detroit area. Surrounding the market area are several blocks of restaurants, boutiques, wine, cheese and candles, art and coffee shops, bakeries, and antique and resale shops.

Available in the market area are many types of blooming flowers, whether it be hanging baskets, potted sunflowers, other potted flowers or flowers cut for your dinner table. We found (fresher than anything you've ever experienced) produce from area farmers, super-sized, and ready for smoothies or family meals. Real farm-fresh eggs were also available. Specialty products, art, jewelry, Michigan-made products and several food trucks are also nearby. Vendors are independently run businesses and can change week to week, so it is always a surprise at the hidden treasures available that day.

The Undercover Divas left with blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, nectarines, and beets for smoothies, a couple of potted sunflower plants, reading material from Michigan State University's Extension Program on healthy growing and eating of fruits and vegetables, hanging baskets, potatoes and onions. Be sure to bring a wagon, if you plan on buying like we did.

Tuesdays at Eastern Market starts the beginning of June and ends the last Tuesday of October. Stands open early-early and are usually gone by 3pm. Driving to Eastern Market, take I-75 to the Mack exit. Then travel past McDonalds to Russell St. and turn right. It is an open-air market located in the downtown Detroit area. Make sure you allow plenty of time as there is so much to see and experience in the Eastern Market area.