WL Socialhouse

FORMELY WINE LOFT

DOWNTOWN KALAMAZOO HAS A LOT OF NEW AND EXCITING RESTAURANTS OPENING AND RE-OPENING! ONE IN PARTICULAR I WAS ECSTATIC ABOUT, AS FOODIES AND COCKTAIL ENTHUSIASTS SHOULD BE JUST AS HYPED, IS THE WL SOCIALHOUSE, FORMERLY THE WINE LOFT. NOW IT’S OFFICIALLY OPEN AND MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN EVER BEFORE. BY RACHEL KIRTLEY

The remodel is absolutely STUNNING. New floors, paint, chairs, beautiful marble-top tables, unique lighting & chandeliers that totally gave us Chicago vibes and we’re here for it!

We enjoyed so many delicious cocktails & food that I felt I needed to break this down for you.

- DRINKS -

First off, cocktails of course. As you all know, I’m a connoisseur of dirty martinis and the one I had at WL Socialhouse did NOT disappoint! I loved the unique shape of the martini glasses. Every drink is executed perfectly and so unique!

General Manager Kelsey Wolf along with beverage specialist from 600 Kitchen & Bar’s Mike Olinger (a.k.a. Captain Rosè) worked together to create a cocktail menu worthy of any city - big or small. The two knocked it out of the park with these amazing cocktails! Let’s break down the drinks!

Mai Tai Myers Dark Rum, Bumbu Rum, Lime, Orgeat Almond Syrup, Orange Liqueur

Dirty Martini

Of course! I prefer light olive juice and blue cheese and it was perfect. Vesper Kettle One Vodka, Bombay Sapphire, Lillet Blanc, Thyme Simple & Lemon It was my personal favorite outside of my dirty martini!

Old Fashioned

Maker’s Mark, Orange Bitters, Amarena Cherry, Orange A classic and one of our favorites!

NY Sour

Dry Fly Port Barreled Wheat Whiskey, Lemon Juice, simple, topped with Dry Creek Zinfandel You can also order a traditional Whiskey Sour!

- APPS-

Next of course was the delicious and beautifully-plated food. We love a yummy charcuterie board and WL Socialhouse has some of the best options around. Details on the delicious charcuterie board: diners can pick between 4, 6, or 8 selections of meat, cheese, & veggies. All boards include house roasted nuts, honey, warm olives, mostarda, fruit preserve, pickles, bread and crackers.

If you simply can’t choose, they have the “The Freddie” (for Mercury that is), which is the charcuterie board featuring ALL listed ingredients in the Charcuterie Menu.

- DINNER - After our amazing charcuterie board experience combined with craft cocktails, we dove head first into the food. All of the dishes are masterfully crafted and created with lots of flavor and love. Chef Jason McClellan, Max Makowski and Ryan Fields are a triple threat that you cannot compare! This team is amazing and every dish comes together so perfectly!

WE BEGIN WITH THE SMALL-ISH PLATES:

Latke Smoked salmon, creme fraiche, pickled onion, dill, caviar This was perfection!

Roasted Jumbo Prawns

Smoked chili hotel butter, grilled citrus, herb salad

Oysters

That’s right, a place to get fresh oysters!!!! (So many of you keep asking!) Tuna Tartare Sushi-grade ahi, soy sesame, avocado, truffle oil This was stellar and I loved the truffle infusion into the shell with the fresh avo & tuna!

Pan Braised Mushrooms @sprout_it_ Sprout

It mushrooms, toasted @thevicbakery Victorian Bakery sourdough, white wine, herbs, creme fraiche I LOVE Victorian bakery bread. It’s my favorite in town. This dish was so savory, comforting & delicious.

THEN ONTO THE LARGE-ISH PLATES: Fresh Market Fish (Grouper) in a Banana Leaf

Coconut rice, cabbage slaw, shaved veggies, lime, ponzu vinaigrette

Manhattan New York Strip Truffle potato croquettes, King trumpet mushrooms, Sauce Diane The steak is sous vide. It’s very tender & delicious!

Pan Roasted 1/2 Chicken

Fingerling potatoes, local veggie, Chef Max’s salsa verde, lemon

- DESSERT -

Dark Chocolate Cremoso

Whipped ganache, espresso crema, hazelnut praline I’m a sucker for dark chocolate, ganache, and espresso, so obviously I had to try this!

A special thank you to all of the staff, especially our wonderful server, Dottie, and kitchen staff Chef Max, Ryan, and Jason, but truly a huge thank you to the ENTIRE team at WL Socialhouse. I love that they source local ingredients and businesses. They also have amazing gluten-free and vegan options. Check out their Facebook & website for more details. HAPPY DINING!

Rachel Kirtley

Rachel has worked in all levels of the food industry for over a decade. She is currently a Social Media Influencer, Content Creator and Restaurant Reviewer. You can visit her at thekalamazoofoodie.com.

It’s Girl Scout Cookie time!

Ready for delicious? It’s time for Girl Scout Cookies and there are plenty of ways to find them. Girls have digital cookie sites where you can order online, cookie booths will be back, and girls will be taking orders as usual. We also have them for sale at our Girl Scout office. No matter how you purchase your favorite cookies, remember that the Girl Scout Cookie Program instills life skills that l make girls relevant in today’s world. They are entrepreneurs who have mastered goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics. Profits stay local, mostly allowing girls to fulfill their dreams, whether through community service, travel, and much more. Find your cookies. Contact our help desk at 800-497-2688 or email to helpdesk@gshom.org. They will help you connect with a troop or girl.

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Village North Woods

Kalamazoo

Our Community Features:

• Safe & Secure community, specifically designed for those with memory challenges • State-of-the-art motion sensing technology in all resident suites • Certified Dementia Practitioners on staff • Licensed Nurse on-site 24/7 • “New Directions”® tiered programming tailored to each resident • Virtual Communication Center for families to stay connected • Beautifully appointed & enclosed courtyard with walking paths • Delicious chef-prepared meals & snacks

• Dedicated Non-Denominational chapel • Respite stays welcomed

Call today for more information and to schedule a tour. 269-397-2200

9th St.

94

Stadium Dr.

131

131: Exit 36 I-94: Exit 72

Speedway Stadium Dr.

9th St.

Harding’s

Parkview Ave

6203 Stadium Drive | Kalamazoo, MI 49009 www.NorthWoodsMemoryCare.com

JOIN US FOR A DAY OF FREE FAMILY FUN!

Kalamazoo County Expo Center 2900 Lake Street | Kalamazoo, MI • Bounce house & obstacle course • Heroes and characters who love to engage and pose for photos • Rocking musical performances

• Trick-or-Treating • Kid’s costume contest • Princess story time • Face painting GREAT ACTIVITIES & FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY