The kitchen at Mott Community College’s Culinary Arts Program is bustling with activity as students learn how to make cheese from Chef Mark Handy. Chef Mark teaches the garde manger class, in which students are taught how to prepare different foods produced in the cold kitchen, including cheese-making, smoked and cured foods, salads and salad dressings, cold sauces and soups, to name a few. And the students are in good hands. Chef Mark was recently one of 26 chefs inducted into the American Academy of Chefs, a great achievement. According to Dawn Hibbard, Communication Specialist at MCC, Chef Mark is one of only 20 chefs in Michigan to receive this honor. Chef Mark explained that there are 17 mandatory requirements to even be considered, and a chef must be nominated by two AAC members. He was sponsored by Chef John Zehnder and Chef Rajeev Patgaonkar.

Dinner at Sagano Japanese Bistro & Steakhouse isn’t just a meal – it is an experience! Hungry guests sit around hibachi grill tables as highly-skilled chefs put on a knife show, slicing and grilling vegetables with flair, cooking meat as flames shoot from the grill, while simultaneously preparing rice and noodles. “Something magical happens when it all gets put together,” says Ino (Shiro) Inoue, who along with his wife, Inja, are the faces of the restaurant and original owners of the Japanese Bistro that has a loyal following of local sushi lovers.

Whether you’re rooting for the Spartans or the Wolverines, football fans love to tailgate on game day. Some folks keep it simple with burgers and dogs; others take hours preparing dishes that make the occasion extra special. Here’s a sampling of some local fan faves!

There is nothing more romantic than dinner for two and a lovely bottle of wine at an intimate, Italian restaurant. Nestled in a small shopping center off Holly Road in Grand Blanc, you will find Da Edoardo North, an authentic Italian restaurant. From the colorful array of flowers at the entrance of the eatery to the sleek wooden bar, inviting interior and white linen-covered tables, Da Edoardo provides a true, upscale dining experience and what owner Eddie Barbieri describes as “the real deal” when it comes to the food. “It’s true Northern Italian cuisine,” he says, of the many delectable dishes offered at the restaurant, which has served the community since March 2000, and was voted the best place for fine dining by the My City Magazine City’s Choice Awards.

Leo’s Coney Island is a diner that originated in the Detroit area in 1972. It was started by the Stassinopoulos brothers, Leo and Pete. Its famous Greek Salad dressing (a family recipe), chili, and other homemade dishes have helped the restaurant make a name for itself. Building on a reputation of quality food and great service, Leo’s began to open more restaurants around the Detroit area, and soon became a popular chain. There are currently 62 Leo’s Coney Islands, four of which are located in Genesee County: Grand Blanc, Fenton, on Miller Road in Flint Township, in Lapeer and the newest location in Davison. What you will find at all five of these area locations is clean and comfortable dining spaces, attentive service and an expansive menu of American comfort food and Greek specialties at reasonable prices.

Summer is the peak season at the fabulous Flint Farmers’ Market – the facility attracts visitors from all over in search of luscious local fruits, veggies, baked goods, cheeses, fresh eggs and meats – but that isn’t all you’ll find there. The Market is home to many restaurants and eateries that will tantalize your taste buds. My City Magazine spent a day talking with the restaurant owners and sampling delicious food.

If you’re craving some zesty and authentic Mexican food, look no further than Tia Helita’s Mexican Cuisine on Saginaw Street in Burton. Every day is a fiesta at the family-owned restaurant that has been serving tacos, frosty margaritas, crunchy chips and salsa, and much more to the community for 45 years. Now owned by Monica Reed and her mother Sonia Tate, the restaurant was originally opened by Sonia’s grandparents Urbana and Mary Villarreal. “It started out very small,” says Sonia, who started working at the restaurant in 1970, cooking, waiting tables and taking orders. The menu was limited, but all the food was fresh and homemade, and patrons lined the street outside waiting for some good, authentic Mexican food, she remembers. The restaurant became so popular, they moved to a larger building at the corner of Richfield and Western Roads. Monica took the helm in 1993, and the eatery has occupied its current location since May of 1999.

Sometimes, the simplest things are the best. And nothing is simpler than a crepe, a light and very delicate French pancake. It’s what you put in it or on it, however, that transforms this simple pancake into a gustatory sensation.

The menu is simple – hearty breakfasts, including mouth-watering omelets and skillet scrambles; big, juicy burgers, sandwiches, soup, and chili made from a secret family recipe. That’s right, there’s no room for dessert at Krystal Jo’s. The popular corned-beef hash is made from scratch and the French fries and hash browns are fresh cut. All meals are made to order with only fresh ingredients. Tony says the few salads on the menu are seldom ordered. “We are definitely a burger joint, and that’s what my customers want,” he said truthfully. “If you come in here to eat, you’ll not only get some good food, you’ll have a good experience.”