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train arrives quietly, its blue and yellow paint bringing much-needed color to
an otherwise gray and blustery day in central Michigan. Spring is battling the
remains of a tough winter, the air tinged with the scent of fresh-cut grass although
most trees aren't yet brandishing leaves. It's
just before the maiden run of the Mountain Town Limited Dinner Train and employees
of the Mountain Town Station restaurant, located in downtown Mount Pleasant, are
loading ice-packed containers into the cars in preparation for the four-course
meal we'll soon be sampling. The
restaurant and brewery, in operation as such since 1996, is housed in the renovated
historic Mount Pleasant Railroad Depot building, so a dinner train operating from
here seems like a natural progression. And it's not just any dinner train; this
one is luxurious in feel with its silver art deco-themed dining car and white
linen-clad tables. In fact,
after we've boarded the train and it starts clickety-clacking its way down the
track, I feel as if I'm transported back in time. In my mind I see frantic handkerchief
waving and teary goodbyes; out the window, however, is the sprawling campus of
Central Michigan University, home to around 20,000 students. The
servers start us off with a beverage (sodas, wine and beer are available) before
dazzling us with our appetizer, asparagus wrapped with proscuitto and drizzled
with asiago cheese sauce. It is tender, flavorful and the perfect portion. Just
as we venture further into the countryside of central Michigan, our salads arrive
- fresh field greens with sliced Roma tomatoes and chunks of mozzarella. The accompanying
balsamic vinaigrette is perfectly balanced, complementing the salad beautifully.
Next
are the entrees, of which we delighted in the task of sampling a bit of each. (CONTINUE...)
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