Client: AMIQ
En tant que responsable des commandites du GAMIQ 2009, Extra Caramel a réussi à aller chercher la chaîne de restaurant DAGWOODS comme commanditaire pour le quatrième Gala de l’Alternative Musicale Indépendante du Québec. La chaîne de restaurant est établie à Montréal depuis 1989 et compte maintenant 22 succursales sur l’île et les alentours. DAGWOODS prévoit l’ouverture de trois autres emplacements d’ici la fin de l’année 2009.

“What it does is it gives us an opportunity to combine two very powerful elements — the sport of baseball and nationalism — to promote the game.” — Paul Archery, the point man for the World Baseball Classic for MLB commish Allen “Bud” Selig.

No matter where you go, the topic of conversation lately seems to be on the upcoming World Baseball Classic.

Everybody’s talking about it.

Just tonight, on a trip to the local Vons, the cashier asked, “So, who do you like in the WBC?”

“I’m thinking the Dominican is looking pretty good, but don’t count out Japan.”

“What about the U.S.?”

“I’d feel a lot better about our chances if CC was on the bump, but he’s not.”

“Word. Well, you saved $6.75 by using your Vons card Mr. Greatest Pro Bowls of all time. Have a great night!”

“Cheers!”

It’s great to save a little coin at the grocery store during these days when our old friend Dow Jones is taking a daily beating. It’s even better to talk some baseball … particularly the second edition of the World Baseball Classic.

This is an exciting week for the game, and in giddy anticipation of said excitement, here are five games to watch in the opening round of the World Baseball Classic (in chronological order, for your convenience, of course):

Japan is the defending champion of the World Baseball Classic.

China vs. Japan (March 5): Greatest Pro Bowls of all time, and other stuff is hosting a party for the WBC opener, with first pitch set for 1:30 a.m. PT on Thursday. You’re invited, of course. Greatest Pro Bowls of all time, and other stuff will even provide Firestone beer, Dagwoods pizza and deliciously flavored pistachios from Santa Barbara Pistachios.

Canada vs. United States (March 7): Greatest Pro Bowls of all time, and other stuff is expecting Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun to be a major factor for Team USA during the WBC. Team USA may need the power surge, since this is a home game for the Canadians. This game is a Five-Star Upset Special^TM.

Panama vs. Puerto Rico (March 7): Which team will finish second in Pool D behind the Dominican Republic? For the record, Greatest Pro Bowls of all time, and other stuff has Panama advancing as the runner-up in this group (with República Dominicana as the group leader, of course) in the World Baseball Classic Bracket Challenge.

Italy vs. Venezuela (March 7): Could this be the Spicy Meatball Upset Pick of the WBC^TM?

South Africa vs. Cuba (March 8): This one could get ugly, but Greatest Pro Bowls of all time, and other stuff will have this one queued up anyway. Wanna stop by for some beers, brats and WBC baseball?

• 2803 E. Kalamazoo St.
• Lansing, MI 48912
• (517) 374-0390
• No Known Website
• Menu

Dagwood's Tavern and Grill on Kalamazoo St. in Lansing.

There are so many places we drive by that I put on a mental checklist of places.  My memory isn’t always so good though.  Dagwood’s Tavern and Grill is one of those places I always think about when we’re driving on 127, but I never think of it when we’re debating where we should eat lunch at.

I was working at the Breslin Center Saturday afternoon.  J was had planned on meeting me for lunch at 3:30.  We got released for lunch break earlier, so I told her to meet me at The Roadhouse Pub.  I walked down there before she was able to get through town, but I found a dark, empty bar.  I had to come up with a plan b.  On my way to Breslin earlier that morning, I got off of 127 at Kalamazoo and again thought to myself, we should eat at Dagwood’s.  As I was walking back towards the arena, I finally remembered that little bar we’ve been wanting to try.

Dagwood’s is located on Kalamazoo St at the US 127 interchange.  It doesn’t look like much from the outside….just you’re neighborhood bar.  I’m much more comfortable in a place like that than I am in a bar where I’m trying to impress someone…..luckily, I don’t have to do that anymore…..good thing cause I was never good at it anyway. 

The "Dagwood's" sign hanging off the building.

We made it inside the bar just as the fourth quarter of the Michigan State football game was starting.  The inside of the bar is really cool.  There’s a row of booths along the wall.  There’s also another row of freestanding booths in the middle of the bar.  There are a few tables situated in the corners as well as the bar itself.  We chose a booth along the wall and settled in to watch the football game.  For a tiny “dive” bar, there are quite a few LCD TV’s scattered around and just about everyone else in the bar was wearing green and white.

There was only one waitress working the tables and she was slammed.  When she went back to the bar to put in a drink order, she noticed us sitting there and came over with menus.  After finishing her other drink order, she came back for ours.  By the time we got our Pepsi’s, we were ready to order.  There’s not a lot on the menu and I was just looking for grease.

J was tempted by the chicken fingers, but ended up opting for the grilled chicken sandwich and an order of fries.  She added cheese and lettuce to the sandwich.  She didn’t say a whole lot about the chicken other than it was good.  She was too excited about the fries.  They were fresh cut and deep fried to a perfectly.  J likes her fries really crispy and these were.  She declared them the best fries in town and I’m not going to argue with her.  I’m writing this a day later and she just said she was craving the fries again.

The entrance of Dagwood's Tavern and Grill on Kalamazoo St.

I ordered the double cheeseburger and got it plain.  I prefer to taste the burger and not condiments.  The cool things about Dogwood’s, and obviously how they keep prices down, is that they serve the sandwiches in just wax paper.  No plates.  No basket.  The waitress brought out the two sandwiches in her hand and the basket of fries.  Originally, I had ordered my own basket of fries, but our waitress asked if we were sure we wanted two orders.  When J asked if they were big, she said yes, so we split a large order.  The waitress was right, the basket was a really good size and only $2.  My burger was delicious.  It was the greasy burger I was hoping for. 

I was shocked when our bill was set down on the table.  It was only $15.  We got a great meal and both of us left satisfied.  Dagwood’s is one of Lansing’s hidden gems.  It’s not a place you would normally think of stopping in for lunch or dinner, but you’d definitely be missing out if you didn’t.  It was a great place to watch a game.  It got really loud every time State did something.  We were sorta watching the game and sorta talking to each other and when Javon Ringer busted loose, conversation was pointless.  We’ll probably go back to Dagwood’s again.  If nothing else, the fries will be a draw.