Grand Rapids: Brunch & A Food Festival

Grand Rapids: Brunch & A Food Festival—Double the Delicious Fun! 🥞🍻 Two weeks ago, I heard Grand Rapids was hosting its 16th International Wine & Food Festival—and let me tell you, my foodie heart skipped a beat! Word on the street was there were 1,200 different drinks to try, including tons of local Michigan craft beer. As someone who’s just getting into craft beer (total newbie but loving it!), I knew I couldn’t miss this—how often do you get to taste that many brews in one spot?! 😍 Before heading to Michigan’s second-largest city, I did my homework: I scoured the internet for 4 local brunch spots that looked incredible, planning to pick one once I got there on Saturday. Bright and early, my friend and I hit the road—160 km to Grand Rapids, with two big expectations: amazing brunch and even better beer. When we arrived, we parked on the street near the festival grounds (weekend street parking is free—score! 🚗💨) and set off to check out our brunch shortlist. First up: Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen, the closest spot to our parking spot. We rounded the corner, and wow—there was a huge line out the front door, and even peeking through the windows, every table inside was full! 🤯 Normally, long lines make me (hesitate), but I thought, “If this many people are waiting, it must be good!” So we grabbed a waitlist number, then ran to check the other 3 spots—turns out, they were all packed too! I low-key grinned to myself, thinking, “Perfect—now I have 3 more spots to write about later… oops, did I say that out loud? 😂” Long story short: after a 25-minute wait (totally worth it!), we got seated. Being an outgoing “E-person” (extrovert), I confidently asked our server, “What’s the dish I have to try here?!” She didn’t hesitate: “Our ‘Old Skool’ Breakfast Bowl is a fan favorite!” But then I saw something else on the menu that made my eyes light up: a twist on classic chicken & waffles—mac ‘n’ cheese waffles with Asheville spicy fried chicken 🍗🧀. I smiled at her and said, “I’ll take that… plus the breakfast bowl you recommended!” She gave me a playful half-smile: “Good choice. 😄”I joked back, “I know, right? 😎” Okay, fine—full transparency: I’m actually someone who listens to server recommendations (they know best!), so ordering both was a no-brainer. No artful exaggeration here—I just wanted to try all the good stuff! We chatted and laughed for 15 minutes, and before we knew it, our server was bringing out two plates that looked like they belonged on a food magazine cover. 📸 Let’s talk about my mac ‘n’ cheese waffle dish first: golden, crispy fried chicken sat on top of a fluffy waffle oozing with cheese, garnished with bright green pickle slices, a drizzle of white sauce, and a sprinkle of red chili flakes and orange hot sauce. It was a feast for the eyes and the taste buds! The first bite? Pure magic. The pickles added a crunchy, tangy kick that cut through the fried chicken’s spiciness and richness, while the creamy ranch-like sauce (with a hint of garlic!) balanced everything out. The waffle itself was a star—warm, cheesy, and with a subtle milk sweetness that tasted like maple syrup without being too sugary. And the textures? Chef’s kiss—the waffle’s soft crunch, the chicken’s shattery crust, and the pickle’s crisp bite all mixed together in my mouth. It was like a party for my taste buds! 🎉 The “Old Skool” Breakfast Bowl was just as good—loaded with fluffy scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, creamy grits, and a dollop of pimento cheese. Every spoonful was savory, hearty, and so comforting—exactly what you want from a Southern brunch. We ate until we were stuffed, then waddled over to the food festival to tackle those 1,200 drinks (spoiler: we only tried 5… but they were all amazing!). All in all, this Grand Rapids weekend was a total win—delicious brunch, fun beer tasting, and even a little adventure. If you’re ever in the area, don’t sleep on Tupelo Honey or their food festival—your stomach (and taste buds) will thank you! #GrandRapids#MichiganUSA#WeekendFoodExploration#DailyEats#Breakfast#BrunchLovers