Friday, April 30, 2010

Rivers Italian...

This town's best kept secret.
And it shouldn't be a secret.

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If I were to review all the restaurants
in this little town, I wouldn't be allowed
in the door.   Except for this one...

Rivers Italian is a gleem of hope
in a town that sports specials such
as all you can eat fried fish on a friday night for 8.95
which is a heck of a deal if that's what you're looking for.

We've got an Applebee's and a Ground Round now, a few other
local restaurants that give what I'd call a weak attempt at upscale food.
It's not bad, it's just not authentic in the way of fresh, creative,
and mouthwatering.


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                                                                    [ fresh marlin ]

Which is exactly what Chef Matthew Taylor's food is, fresh,
creative and mouthwatering. Every week he offers fish specials based
on what he has flown in.  Every so often he does a Port of Call,
creating a menu inspired by a specific region or country.

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I can always count on there being a beef special, carnivore that I am.
It's USDA prime and cooked to perfection. A place where you can order
it rare and get it rare. That's unusual in these parts.

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The atmosphere during the day is quaint and cozy. At night it
has a warm, inviting ambiance. Perfect for a romantic evening.


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The wine list is solid and the staff are well versed.
I have yet to ask about a specific wine and the server
say I don't know.

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The desert menu is to die for, and regularly changes.
Tiramisu anyone?



Location:
208 NE Third Street
Grand Rapids, MN, 55744
Phone:
218.327.3471
Mon - Fri:
11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Sat:
12:00 pm - 11:00 pm




Website:

Rivers Italian








One Love. One peace. Always and all ways.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

The duality of life...

I witnessed multiple acts of selfishness this week,
the likes of which I have never seen.

Just when I think people cannot surprise me anymore
by the things they do with the intention of causing pain,
or the things they do that cause pain because they
walk this earth in some sort of blind self serving egoic state,
I stand here, my mouth open...unable to speak

... appalled.

They will never know the pain they cause.
They're too blinded by ego and their own selfish agendas.



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then I witness on my way to work,
a homeless man 
who was riding by on his bicycle  in the rain,
carrying bags of aluminum cans and other treasures,
help a single mother and her two young children,
put a mattress, that she'd just pulled out of
the dumpster behind the furniture store,
on the top of her beaten up old station wagon 
.....that GMH.
[ please click the link below, it will lift you in ways you couldn't imagine ] 
(gives me hope)

















One Love. One Peace. Always and all ways.

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