The fabulous after-dinner cakes are a takeaway from ASTORIA PASTRY SHOP

We deliberately had a small dinner, for there were enchanting deserts waiting for us after dinner.

A box containing cakes carefully taken home from ASTORIA PASTRY SHOP in Royal Oak

I'll open it gently...

Great, I'm relieved. 😂   I was careful not to tip the cake in the car.

They are beautifully wrapped in paper.  A treat in the front ↑ is KEY LIME CHEESECAKE for Collie💚

CARROT  CAKE

spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, finished with a smooth cream cheese frosting

RED VELVET CAKE

chocolate cake with butter cream frosting

Red Velvet cake has a magical charm.  Let me have a bite?

This is what it looks like on the inside.

I am happy to have tasted my dream cakes. I didn't eat them all. I'll save the rest for tomorrow. However, Collie didn't eat his Key Lime Cheesecake at all this night. It's probably he ate large sized ice cream during the day. So his cake is supposed to appear in a perfect condition again.

I can enjoy these cakes in Michigan for just a little while longer. Every moment was precious.  Rose

a ballon above Kroger & a mystery beef sandwich of Collie

Did some shopping at Collie's familiar Kroger in the evening.

When we came out of the store after shopping －

We saw a balloon just above the structure！

What a flamboyant balloon! It was a stunning image. Then we got in the car and left for his house. 

I shot Downtown Oxford from inside the car as much as I could.   A quaint atmosphere as ever...

Actually, there was another place where he stopped to buy something he could go for.   It was meat.

A beef sandwich hit the spot! When he is craving for beef, getting this beef sandwich is quick and easy. Gentle Collie gave me half of it...😂

Other than that, Salads from Olive Garden, and lemon flavored beer Collie had in his fridge. A glass of beer would enrich the table♫♬  And that unexpected beer was pretty tasty.

Not to miss the opportunity to use feta cheese I chose at Kroger, I added it to the salads. I don't have enough time to cook for a short visit in Michigan. However, meals like this are also fun and good♪

I don't remember which shop Collie bought the beef sandwich...😅　Does anyone have a guess? 

Sweet & relaxing time at ASTORIA PASTRY SHOP in Metro Detroit

Regarding my trip to Michigan for the first time in five years, ASTORIA PASTRY SHOP was a must to revisit! Three cakes I'd definitely love to eat had always been in my mind while I was waiting in Japan for travel restrictions to be lifted.

ASTORIA PASTRY SHOP started its history in 1971 from the Greektown District of downtown Detroit, which was my first visit. Since then, I'd also visited Royal Oak shop several times, and this time, I came to Royal Oak shop again.

ASTORIA PASTRY SHOP   320 S Main St. ROYAL OAK

The three cakes of my dearest wish is...

Carrot cake！

Cheesecake！

Red Velvet Cake！

And the following Milk Chocolate Cookie was a new surprise. Collie bought it quickly so he could eat it while walking and I had a bite of it. It was so good! 😍 

Milk Chocolate Chunk Cookies

We took a quick look at ASTORIA PASTRY SHOP, and stepped out for a stroll in downtown Royal Oak. We will come back to this shop again to get my dream cakes later. 

A music festival was being held in a certain area. We attended a little but that music turned out not to be Collie's thing, nor to be Rose's thing. It was a scorching hot day. So we cut short walking around the city. 

We are heading to ASTORIA PASTRY SHOP.

We decided to eat something at the store besides taking away some other cakes with us after that. Let's take a break in a cool place♪

Collie's choice is mint chocolate chip ice cream☺ 

Rose's choice is cheesecake☺

Collie ordered large sized ice cream for himself and like "I can't eat it all.", but ate it all. :3  

I ordered plain cheesecake because I wanted the simple taste of cheesecake itself. This is my first cheesecake of ASTORIA PASTRY SHOP in a while. I'm happy❤︎

I have a penchant for cheesecake♡   It's not great in terms of health, but it tastes amazing！

We savored the relaxing atmosphere of the cafe sitting by the window and looking out at the street.

Savoring a treat inside the store with specialty gourmet coffee roasted just for their customers...✨ Coffee was great too and it went well with my cheesecake. I enjoyed the time to my heart's content. Collie is like, he's craving for meat after taking a lot of sugar. ww　But I'm sure he also enjoyed the sweet & relaxing time at ASTORIA PASTRY SHOP like me.

We brought home a box containing three pieces of cakes. I will let you know which cakes we bought. 

ASTORIA PASTRY SHOP is receiving many awards over the years and the high standard confections are preeminent in Detroit metropolitan area. I highly recommend you to go to this charming shop in Greektown or Royal Oak. You'd surely meet your favorite there.

Solanus Casey Center that inherits the will of Detroit's beloved Capuchin priest

The Solanus Casey Center is a spiritual oasis inspired by the holiness of Capuchin friar blessed Solanus Casey in the heart of Detroit.

Father Solanus dedicated his life to spending much of his time feeding the poor and caring for the sick. His remains are now inside the chapel at Saint Bonaventure Monastery.

Saintly priest Solanus was inspired by the Gospel of Luke 11:10 throughout his life;  Jesus speaks －

 "Ask and you shall receive.  Seek and you shall find.  Knock and it shall be opened to you."

peaceful atmosphere for meditation and facing oneself

The feast day of blessed Solanus Casey, Detroit's beloved Capuchin priest is July 30 and is celebrated every year. In 2024, it's being remembered at the Solanus Casey Center with a nine-day novena on July 22 - July 30. 

May more and more people on the earth be greatly influenced by venerable Solanus Casey, imitate and carry on his love for all the poor and the suffering of the glove. 

our quick and fun brunch at home

We got back all the way from Northern Michigan last night, so got up late this morning. Thank you for driving, Collie. You must be very tired from having driven for a long time. Let's have a relaxing morning with easy brunch.

Collie whipped up scrambled eggs for us😃

I add a biscuit that I brought home from CITY PARK GRILL in Petoskey.

Kroger Fresh Cut Cantaloupe/Pineapple.  Polish paper napkins are casually cute🌼

I'll put butter(with olive oil and sea salt) on my biscuit♪

Collie eats his scrambled eggs with two slices of toast.👨

On this trip, the soy milk I found at Kroger was a great discovery. I poured soy milk into a mug and enjoyed tea with milk.  Making something simple and taking it easy...  I found happiness here, too.

Night meal to the point taken out from Tropical Smoothie Cafe

We came back to Collie's house after a long drive. It was getting late at night, so we ordered our food to go at Tropical Smoothie Cafe and had it at home. This time, it was got near where he lives. I'm thankful, it is a popular chain that can be found all over the place in U.S.A.

I chose green smoothies this time. "ISLAND GREEN" is made from spinach, kale, mango, pineapple & banana. Very big as usual, and heavenly delicious again! 

"MAPLE-KISSED SWEET POTATOES" are gentle taste. Regarding sandwiches, they were avocado & cheese toasted ones, but I much preferred WRAPS to SANDWICHES on the menu.

If Tropical Smoothie Cafe were in Japan, I would probably go there often. It's not perfectly healthy since raw cane sugar is added into the smoothies. Still, I love WRAPS and SMOOTHIES. They are healthy and tempting for me. Delicious food always makes me happy if that makes sense. ☺

 

I loved biscuits of CITY PARK GRILL in Petoskey, Michigan.

Having driven south from Mackinaw City, we stopped by Petoskey again. It's always exciting to find a good restaurant in Petoskey. AMERICAN SPOON, my icon of Petoskey, no more serves lunch since it became a gelato speciality store, so we looked for a new place to have our late lunch. 

Luckily it was not long before we found a nice place, which is also on E Lake Street and just near Pennsylvania Park like AMERICAN SPOON. We walked in CITY PARK GRILL. The decor has splendor. No wonder, it is one of Petoskey's oldest buildings and was originally constructed in 1875.

When we sat down, splendid warm biscuits were served. How tasty, and whipped butter is great, too! I love this biscuit. It was a yellowish, cookie-like biscuit. 

 

Collie's choice

FISH SANDWICH added SWEET POTATO FRIES

A powerful dish with gorgeous white fish, and plenty of Sweet Potato Fries!   Compared to that －

Rose's choice

SHELLFISH CHOWDER  small sized

It is including shrimp, scallops, clams...but whole the portion is much smaller than I expected...

( ；∀；)  I was so jealous of his dish. I've made the same mistakes as I made this time.

I asked for another biscuit to satisfy my stomach...and again one more... While I was still working on it, my whipped butter was taken away swiftly by a cheerful waitress. It often happens...( ；∀；) However, it's a nice restaurant serving delicious lunch & dinner where welcoming staff is likable.

CITY PARK GRILL

432 E Lake Street Petoskey, Michigan 49770

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 11:30 AM - 9 PM

When you visit Petoskey, please try a splendid hot biscuit with lots of whipped butter. You will be surprised at how delicious it is. Free refills so I recommend you to ask for another one. Have fun!