Column for March 17, 2005

Gazette newspaper, the only paper in the world with Della "On the Record" "Mike's Meandering" and Ben E's "Food for Thought."

When I was a kid I never really liked chocolate. I made my Mom buy white chocolate for Easter. Now days l like it OK. In fact I think it is better for a sore throat then cough drops.

What ever happened to Orange Julius? Remember them? Where they supposed to be a health drink? Or was that a pre-Slurpee thing? I hear Dairy Queen bought them out, but I don't hear anything about them anymore.

7-11 has a new treat called an Old Fashion Float. They have a little ice cream cup that snaps on to a Big Gulp, poke your straw through and wow, not bad. Only problem the local 7-11 didn't have Root Beer? Never did go for Coke Float but hey Vernors!

Can you eat to many strawberries? The wife, I like to say the wife instead of my wife, went to Sam's Club and bought a big plastic thing or huge sweet ripe strawberries. Man I don't know if you could eat them everyday but wow unwashed and right out of the bucket, good.

That reminds me, Belleville Strawberry Festival not to far away. Everything Strawberry. The Strawberry Queen, the Strawberry Parade, Strawberry Sundaes, Strawberry Pie, Strawberry Shakes, Strawberry Jam. Strawberry Pop. OK maybe you can have to many strawberries.

Have you heard of Deals? A new store on 5 mile and Middlebelt in Livonia? All food stuff under a buck. Pop, peanut butter, bread, chips, cereal, ice cream, corn, soup, maybe even strawberries.

My friend Deb remembers eating at Sanders, Canterbury Place, Tiffany's, A &W, Dan's Subs, the original Romanos Pizza, the Treasure Chest, the Wising Well, the Nugget at 12 and Orchard Lake and the Old Tyme Deli which she always thought was a cool place.

Some of my pals been saying we should get to that Daly's restaurant on Plymouth Road being that it is the last of its kind. Daly burger, Boston Cooler, a footlong hot-dog, fries and a banasplit. Memories. Dalys my have been the first restaurant I ever ate at. Ah come to think of it that is where I met my first wife. Wow.

How is your taste in music?

Rock, rap, country, blues, big band, swing, blue grass, polka? I always like to mention a few area band our local American Idols at the end of the column, If you have a favorite send me a e-mail tell me all about them. The Reflections, Killer Flamingos, Shot Gun Willie, Nathaniel Mayer, Vinnie Dombrowski, Dal Bouey, Steve King, Twistin" Tarantulas.

I get e-mails from a band called Bump. I don't know much about them but they must be the areas number one band. They play nonstop coast to coast and they should be on everyone's must see list. See them April 8 at 5th Avenue Ballroom in Novi. For move information go to www.bump_grove.com.

To reach Ben E. Jet call (313) 730-1627 via e mail benejets@aol.com and see the web sites www.bennyandthejets.com and www.reverendguitars.com.