Comments on: Restaurant Villegas Closes Its Doors

By: Karen Seamons

Karen Seamons — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 21:43:27 +0000

I'll make a deal with you, Eric, you come up to Traverse City
and open a new restaurant, then I'll show you where all my morel mushroom patches are, where we get grain-fed. free-range Charolais beef, wild trout and salmon, home-made maple syrup and enough odds and ends to stock the pantry. You have been so entertaining and such an enthusiastic gourmand, and thinking we'll never to get to enjoy a meal of your making, takes a bit of joy
right out of life. We'd love to have you. K

By: Doris Patrick

Doris Patrick — Thu, 15 May 2008 18:50:04 +0000

I must tell you how very disappointed I am to see Restaurant Villegas HAS CLOSED! My parents, especially my mother, just love you from seeing you on Fork in the Road and having the pleasure to meet and talk with you when we've come there to celebrate their wedding anniversary (close to 60 years)or my mom's birthday. I have rarely seen my mother enjoy an experience more than those three visits to Restaurant Villegas. When I called her today to say we wouldn't be able to have our annual dinner there, she said she just felt like crying. I'm supposed to tell you part of "eating local" for us has been coming to your wonderful restuarant. We'll certainly miss it and you, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving my parents such joy!

Doris Patrick

By: Dan

Dan — Mon, 12 May 2008 17:49:10 +0000

THIS JUST SUX…. I've watched the show for years, and now (well in July) I will be in the Lansing area….. and I can't go to the one place that I have been itching to go to. Uncle E… ya just gotta open another restaurant!!!!!
Like Ken said (Post #7-March 1st) …. Should haves!

By: Fred Battershell

Fred Battershell — Sun, 11 May 2008 01:02:31 +0000

Today(May 10) I watched your wonderful, entertaining show;now I am saddened by the news of your restaurant closing. I live 200 miles north and had planned to visit this year. Your restaurant like so much of what is good in Michigan is fast disappearing. Eric, keep up the good work in whatever you are planning for your future!!!!

By: Jason

Jason — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 14:12:56 +0000

Although saddened by the closing of a truly incredible restaurant which we enjoyed very much, I'm happy to hear fork in the road is expanding it's distribution. Many more people will now be exposed to the creativity that E encourages in his cooking. The connection between what we eat and where it comes from is an important message in many episodes.
If you ever need a cramped, semi-functional kitchen to film an episode in you're more than welcome to come cook with us! Just bring the recipe for the chocolate cake we found at Villegas the first day we moved to Michigan.

By: Peggy

Peggy — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 14:46:17 +0000

I was so surprised to see the blog about the restaurant closing. Are you going to open a new place somewhere? Best wishes for your future endeavors. We greatly enjoyed the few dining experiences we had at Villegas and are now enjoying the cook book. Thank, Unkle E, for inspiring all of us Gastronauts! Signed, A Culinary Kitten

By: Robert C

Robert C — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 22:09:17 +0000

I was had the pleasure of eating at Villegas many times. We would many times in awe of the great, yet comfortable dishes. (from a simple grill cheese sandwich for the kids that we were jealous of, to the white fish nachos that we ordered with hesitation the first time, and re-ordered often) We were never disappointed.

I am curious- why the closing? Did it get to be too much with the production and promotion of the show? It seems it could have been taken over. I guess with a lack of good restaurants in the area it bothers me.

By: Cathy McAuliff

Cathy McAuliff — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:37:39 +0000

My family and I never had the pleasure of dining at Villegas, but we have always enjoyed "Fork In The Road". Eric, keep supporting local products, you do such a wonderful job at it! Hopefully one day you will be cooking some of our farm raised beef on the "Fork". Best of luck in your future endeavors and keep making cooking fun!!

By: Ken Leche

Ken Leche — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 19:51:41 +0000

Among my life's "should haves" will be I should have had a fine meal before it closed.

I am sad, but I still look forward to watching the best of food TV with Eric.

By: Richard G

Richard G — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 01:04:53 +0000

Uncle E gave me the chance to pursue my dream and let me cook in his kitchen for about three years. I picked Villegas because of the passion this man had for creativity, quality and fun in the kitchen. I am saddened that the doors are now shut and that there now is no place in town to go for interesting, exciting food.

You'll be missed, Eric

By: Cheryl Walsh

Cheryl Walsh — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 19:47:33 +0000

We were so disappointed to discover the resturant was closed. We always went there for our special occasions. I ordered the "Fork in the Road" cookbook hoping the recipe for michigan maple syrup and carrot soup would be in it. That was really why I bought the cookbook. Is there a way to get that recipe?

By: Patrick

Patrick — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 19:35:49 +0000

Eric - I am hoping you are off to new and exciting adventures. On behalf of all my apple buddies, hard cider friends and fresh cider folks and generally all of the farmers you've connected with over the years, a big THANK YOU! I have been inspired by your enthusiam, energy and love of the local foods and those who supplied. I look forward to seeing more as you continue your journey. Many thanks to you and Scott for working with me as I've also tried to make a difference, too. — Patrick

By: Beth

Beth — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 01:30:54 +0000

I wasn't familiar with the restaurant but was given the cookbook as a gift and WOWEE, not only do the recipes sounds yummy, but looking thru the book is like taking a trip thru our "mitten state". I'll keep the cookbook in mind as a gift for those friends who have left Michigan for "greener pastures" but will enjoy a visit back thru the gorgeous pictures. Can't WAIT to try some of the recipes too, they sound GREAT!

By: ASK

ASK — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 04:24:50 +0000

So sad to see the restaurant closing the doors - but you can still enjoy the greatness of Fork In the Road - with the wonderful cookbook. The cookbook has just received a Michigan Notable Book Award.

By: Arnold Richards

Arnold Richards — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 15:03:03 +0000

I really enjoy watching Fork In The Road and it saddens me to hear of the restaurants closing. I would like to say maybe after fork in the road you would one day reopen. I mean it take years to make a restaurant great and one must have a passion for cooking. And be bold enough to chase greatness. That sir is something you have passion for cooking and boldness. I thank you for people like you who have inspiring me to become a chef. Once again I thank you love your show keep up the good work.
Arnold Richards Culinary Student