BEST APPETIZER MENU - LAKE MAGAZINE JULY 2005

EVERYDAY PEOPLE CAFÉ
DOUGLAS, MICHIGAN

EVERYDAY STARTERS According to executive chef Matt Balmer, the role of the appetizer is to "whet the appetite, to anticipate what's up next...": To that end, the appetizers that Balmer and head chef Curt Bass have concocted at Everyday People Café are certain to have patrons' salivary glands working overtime.

The Menu at the café features such delectable starters as lamb lollipops (Lamb chops in a smoked paprika-garlic marinade on a fontina-herb polenta with leek crisps, orange-mint aioli and demi-glace); lump crab cake (lump crab, smoked corn relish, remoulade, Creole cocktail sauce and vinaigrette-dressed greens); mussels Monaldo (mussels, white wine, shallots, garlic, diced tomato, fresh herbs, Dijon mustard and garlic bread rounds); and an abundant tapas plate. The star of the show, however, is the drunken shrimp sambuca, a mouth-watering dish of shrimp, garlic, shallots, sun-dried tomato, sambuca and a touch of cream atop a puffed pastry.

Paired with the perfect glass of wine, the hearty starters, all $12 or less, are a great primer for any one of the café's savory entrees, or simply a great meal all by themselves.

Everyday People Café is located at 11 Center St, Douglas. Open Mon, Tues, Thurs 11am-2pm, 5:30-10pm; Fri 11am-2pm, 5:30-11pm; Sat 8am-2pm, 5:30pm-11pm; Sun 8m-1pm, 5:30-10pm, 269-857-4240.

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