Chapelure

Chapelure
Ste 10, 4750 S Hagadorn Rd, East Lansing, MI 48823
517-333-7172

My wife and kids and I stumbled into Chapelure after taking a walk around Hannah Plaza after dinner.  And, what a wonderful surprise this was earlier this summer finding this little jem in East Lansing!  I also can’t believe that I’ve forgotten to blog about this place because it is amazing.

Imagine European bakery treats like traditional madeleines offered along with an Asian twist  –  green tea madeleines!  As far as I can tell, they do both European bakery items along with Asian bakery items and they do them equally well.  This is the only place where I’ve been able to find Asian sweet red bean buns in town.  The assortment of goodies is eye popping and wonderfully arranged. 

You can enjoy your pastries with coffee and tea inside a very cozy atmosphere with free wi-fi.  We went on a Saturday night and there was a great buzz inside the place. (And, note to bargain hunters: some items are 30% off after 7pm!)

Grand Traverse Pie Company

Grand Traverse Pie Company – Okemos
http://www.gtpie.com
3536 Meridian Crossings, Okemos, MI 48864
Phone: 517-381-7437
Hours: M-Fri 6:30am-8:30pm, Sat 8:00-8:30, Sun 10:00-6:00

Grand Traverse Pie Company – East Lansing
1403 E Grand River Ave, East Lansing, MI 48823
Phone: 517-203-3304
Hours: M-Sat 6:30am-10:00pm, Sun 7:00-7:00

One thing you learn when you move to Michigan is that you must pronounce some town names incorrectly in order to blend in.  For instance:

Charlotte is “shar-lot” not “shar-lut” (don’t confuse it with that city in North Carolina!)
Delhi is “dell-high” not “deli” (they have to differentiate themselves, otherwise people might accidently fly half way around the world to India)
Grand Traverse is “grand trav-erse” not “grand truh-verse” (they must have meant to name it “Grand Travis”)
Traverse City is pronounced accordingly

One of the popular vacation spots in Michigan is Traverse City, the epicenter of Cherry production in the state.  Every year there is a cherry festival that draws a multitude of tourists.  The Grand Traverse bay area also features plenty of beaches and water sports.

A bakery cafe local to Traverse City decided to take their store and make it into a chain.  There are two GTPCs around Lansing and several others scattered around the state.  The stores are set up similar to Panera, et al.  The menu offers an array of sandwiches and salads that are adequate.  However, the store shines in its offering of baked goods, all of which are made fresh each morning.  The fruit pies are pretty good, but they won’t match your grandma’s (or my wife’s) homemade pies.  They just seem a bit too sugary and soft.  My favorite dessert there is the peanut butter cup.  A cup-shaped peanut butter cookie, the inside filled with peanut butter and chocolate frosting.  The fruit-filled turnovers are also delicious.

There’s also free wireless internet and the usual selection of coffee.  

Biggby

Biggby
Various locations

www.biggby.com

The coffeehouse formerly known as Beaner’s started out in East Lansing.  The first Beaner’s opened was in a building that used to be an Arby’s on Grand River Avenue, just west of campus (look for the steer’s head in the tile floor).  This location is open 24 hours.  

You won’t see very many Starbucks stores in Lansing because Beaner’s/Biggby’s dominates the market.  Biggby’s seems to have a less formal atmosphere than Starbucks with cuter slogans and promotions and friendly, talkative staff.  Where Starbucks aims for an international, sophisticated feel, Biggby’s de-emphasizes the coffee itself and focuses on the flavored beans and sugary concoctions.  One example is the Butter Bear – a butterscotch-flavored latte with whipped cream, chunks of toffee, and a drizzling of caramel.  You won’t find your prize-winning pull of espresso here, but it’s a friendly place to grab a sweet latte.

Bonus points: free wireless internet (but there’s usually a fight for power outlets)