Restaurant Impossible: Kalico Kitchen, Michigan

That's right, for all the foodie T.V. that we watch we were finally present at a taping for one of our favorites!

Restaurant Impossible!

We found out too late that they would be in town, didn't make it on the reservation list OR the waiting list...but they told us to show up anyway so we did! We showed up around 7pm

We were disappointed that he never even made an appearance...he didn't come out to greet the crowd, nothing. SO DISAPPOINTED. This incidence definitely takes his show down a couple notches on our watch list...he didn't even stick around through the first seating! 

We did wait around because they thought they could get everyone that showed up seated at some point, and made friends with the people around us. Kyecen had a buddy to play with, luckily I came prepared to wait around with toys and snacks!  We ended up being THE LAST group to be seated! At 9:45pm, we were so hungry! The food was good and so was the company...but no Robert Irvine in site :(

The crowd

This guy was holding up the sign for the better part of an hour...just to make sure everyone had a chance to see it!

Construction tents/crew

Waiting for the doors to open!

The unveiling, taking off the plastic covering the windows.

The doors are finally open! If you have reservations you can start going in...

more sign holding :) his arms were tired!

Clean up!

Robert Irvine talking to the first seating of restaurateurs!

I got "reprimanded" for taking pictures of the inside...they had said no taking pictures when you are inside...not no taking pictures of the inside from the outside..oh well!

The new menu for relaunch night!

Crispy Bacon! (sooo good and sooo bad for you!)

Blackened Catfish with Three Cheese Grits (so delicious!)

Burger 

The lead construction guy from the show 

The redesigned interior, love the mirror and the name using spoons.

Love the happy foodies,

Mal, Rob and Kyecen

Cheese Ravioli with Balsamic Brown Butter Sauce!

Cheese Ravioli with Browned Butter Balsamic Sauce!

I was feeling creative...and so I found a few recipes to use what I had in the fridge (not wanting to have to go to the grocery store for one little thing!)

I made the same filling that I put in my stuffed shells, 16oz Ricotta Cheese, 2 cups Mozzarella Cheese, 2 cups Parmesan Cheese, 1 egg, Parsley and Basil, and Salt and Pepper to taste.

I made my dough (3 cups flour, 2 eggs, 1 tsp salt and 1/2 cup warm water) kneaded, and let sit for 15 minutes...rolled it out, filled them with the cheese mix, and folded over and pinched the dough to make my raviolis! I let it sit out for an hour to "dry out" the dough before dropping them in boiling water for 5-6 minutes...then

I made this Balsamic Brown Butter and then added a little cornstarch and flour to thicken it and make a sauce! Delicious! Especially topped with some freshly grated Parmesan.

Eat up!

The world according to Kycen!

Kyecen asked to borrow mommy's camera, of course I said yes...I love seeing the world through a kids eyes, especially my kiddo : )

We spent Sunday outside, washing cars and enjoying a "warm" day outside!!!

Here is our Sunday according to Kyecen!  I think that this might become a new weekly post, I think I might like this better than Pinterest Tuesdays!

Kyecen is actually a really good photographer, especially for a 3 year old! There are a few fingers and camera straps in pictures, but he has is really has the hang of getting his whole subject in the shot...even if he is just trying to get a picture of the whole street! He wanted to show grandma where is house is! and I promise he didn't get any help with these, I just let him take off with the camera and saw what he took afterwards!

A very proud set of parents!!!

Rob and Mal (and photographer Kyecen!)

Salted Caramel Chocolate Cupcakes

Another tasty adventure in our kitchen! Kyecen and I had a little bit of fun today!

I combined my favorite Hot Chocolate Cake recipe, filled them with a little melted caramels and topped with a Salted Caramel Buttercream!!! Delicious!!!

I made a caramel sauce by melting caramels with some milk to thin it out, then poured it into the little spaces I made in the cupcakes! (mini's of course!)

To make the Salted Caramel Buttercream, I made a simple buttercream frosting and blended in a few tablespoons of the caramel sauce, delicious!

 We also made our favorite peanut butter frosting to top some of the chocolate cupcakes!!!

Sweet treats!