I love visiting Colasanti's in Highland. Whenever I am in the area I stop in and never fail to find something quick, easy and delicious for dinner. This week, I purchased some potato crusted cod with cheddar and chives. It was a big hit at my house. If you've never been, Colasanti's is a unique, locally owned market that features Snook's Butcher Shoppe, a large selection of fresh produce, delicious fresh baked breads and desserts, a wonderful wine and beer selection and loads of Michigan made products. Other favorites of mine from Colasanti's include their homemade soups, their cornbread, and…

Every year, for as long as I can remember, I've gone to the Michigan Renaissance Festival. I look forward to two things each year as the festival approaches, the food and the people watching. If you've never been, I highly recommend catching the closing weekend, Sept. 29- Sept. 30. Not only will you be treated to ale, jousting, mermaids and giant, delicious turkey legs - but you'll also get to take part in the annual end of festival chocolate festival. This week's winner of "The Best Thing I Ate" is a dish I've only ever found at the festival - fried Oreos. The Oreos were highly recommended …

The best thing I ate this week comes from Mr. C's Custom Cone in White Lake - a custom parfait. Mr. C's has a large variety of flurries, parfaits and ice cream. All of it is delicious. I've been going to Mr. C's since I was five, and the quality hasn't changed. This week I had the Megan Parfait, it's a combination of cookie dough ice cream, Oreo cookies, hot fudge and whipped topping. It's amazing. Owner Tom Dunleavy, the former Highland Township Supervisor, has lived in Michigan for most of his life. He says he believes the shop sells some of the highest-quality ice cream on the market. Some…

Whether you're buying a gift or just need a chocolate fix, Trifles has all you need. Located in two locations in White Lake, the M-59 storefront carries an array of cakes, candies and chocolates along with books and other gift items. When shopping one day last week for chocolate, I had to pleasure of running into owner Gwendolyn Borders. She suggested I give her Road Candy a try for my weekly column. The candy is an original creation of Borders' and is a mix of chocolate-covered fruits, nuts and caramels. I decided to give the Construction Blues and Michigan Road flavors a try and they did …

One my favorite things about The Root Restaurant & Bar in White Lake are the specials offered at dinner time. They range from watermelon salad to barbecue Amish chicken wings - and I've yet to be disappointed. This week's dish was no exception - squash blossoms. I know what you're thinking, "how can squash blossoms taste good?" It was the same reaction I had when I first ordered them. I quickly found out just how good this dish can be, and have since ordered it every time it's been offered when I'm dining at the restaurant. This week's squash flowers were battered in tempura and Vivant Farm …

Sitting in the cozy bagel shop it was a question I heard asked at least five times by guests perusing the bagel selection at the newly opened Bagel Factory in Highland: "What's a fragel?" I heard the description so many times in the short hour I was there, I couldn't help but give it a try. A fragel is a cinnamon raisin bagel that is deep-fried and then rolled in sugar. When paired with one of the many cream cheese flavors, it's a sweet treat that's hard to resist. While a little messy to eat, I loved the the combination of the cinnamon bagel and sugar. The cream cheese, while flavored, …