Have You Ever Been to Gizzard City?

It was a Sunday afternoon, and my husband and I were returning from Lansing, Michigan, to our home on the west side of the state. We were heading down I-69 when I said, "Let's stop and get something to eat."

"I know a place in Kalamazoo that I like to stop at," he ventured.

Hmmm...I know the man well. Because Kalamazoo was so close to home, I knew when we got there he'd suggest just heading for home. "Don't you know someplace closer to Lansing that you like to stop at?"

"Have you ever been to Gizzard City?" he asked.

No, I had not. So, we pulled of the expressway at the Potterville exit, followed the sign left towards the business district and spotted Joe's Gizzard City right away. It's not hard to do. Potterville's downtown is only about 3 blocks long.

Joe's Gizzard City is exactly the kind of place we love. As you walk in the bar is right in front of you, but there are also tables and booths if you are not the "belly up" kind. Electronic games like Michigan Club Keno and Megaforce Touch Screen are available, but we were there for the gizzards - and the conversation.

Draft beers were served in a Mason jar, with a choice of domestic, import and micro-brews for every taste. The people at the bar were talking gas prices with a gentleman from England, As the conversation progressed, he related that he was touring the United States on his motorcycle. It was his goal to visit every state capitol. Everyone joined in the conversation, web sites were exchanged, and the atmosphere was very friendly. Even without the tantalizing smells wafting from the kitchen, this would have been an excellent stop. But, after all, we had come for the gizzards!

Besides chicken gizzards, they also offer a variety of other bar foods like burgers, burritos, wraps and snacks. With so many choices there was only one thing to do -order the Gizzard Sampler Platter featuring traditional, Cajun and garlic & herb deep fried gizzards. They are guaranteed to be so tender you can cut them with a spoon, and the plateful that I had certainly lived up to that claim.

The menu also includes "The Legend of Joe's Gizzard City." Owned by the same family for almost 50 years, they are proud to be the place where you can truly feel at home. The legend also comes with a warning: "If you see the help arguing with one another just consider it part of the local entertainment at no additional charge!" According to Grandpa, "If the heavenly father can't make people get along all the time, I'll be damned if we can do it!" What a refreshing approach to management! And it seems to work. Our barmaid, Amber was fun, friendly and fast with the second round of beers. We witnessed no arguments, but one of the off duty cooks was at the bar sampling the food and refreshments. (Always a good sign.) Instead, he bragged about the thousands of gizzards he had cooked at the annual Gizzard Fest held in the town square not too long ago.

Have You ever been to Gizzard City? If you have, I'm sure you remember your trip fondly - for there is only one in the world!