Coffee & Treats in Portage

From behind a frozen granite slab, the staff of Cold Stone Creamery uses twin spatulas to blend custom servings of ice cream and creative mix-ins to fit customers? exact specifications. Founded by Donald and Susan Sutherland in 1988, Cold Stone began under the hot Arizona sun, eventually spreading its frosty fingers to encompass more than 1,400 locations worldwide. Despite the size of the company, each location?s staff keeps up the handcrafted quality, making ice cream onsite every day and using those signature spatulas to create delicious pointillist art against the freezer wall.

White Velvet Frozen Yogurt tickles the milk of grass-fed Michigan cows with sprinkles of cane sugar until it giggles out rich, tart frozen yogurt. The tangy handcrafted semi-solid is then swirled into cups along with the tantalizing toppings of your choosing. Update staid fruit salad with concoctions involving blueberry, kiwi, strawberries, and dried pineapple, or swaddle a yowling sweet tooth with spoonfuls swimming in chocolate, cookies or cereal. Thanks to its simple, natural ingredients, the treat can be low in calories, sugar, and fat, and contains all the health benefits associated with natural yogurt, making it a healthier alternative to ice cream and frozen corn dogs.

Cuisine Type: '50s malt shop and diner food Established: 1990 Handicap Accessible: Yes Number of Tables: 25?50 Parking: Free street parking Most Popular Offering: Malts and Elvis burgers Kid-friendly: Yes Alcohol: None Delivery/Takeout Available: Takeout only Outdoor Seating: Yes Q&A with Cindy Bristol, Owner What made you want to work with food? When did you first develop that passion? I started cooking in sixth grade when my mother went back to work and I took over making the family meals. I also loved making desserts. I attended college and received a teaching degree to share my passion for cooking with high school students. As a mother with very young children, I started Scooters to help other mothers by delivering birthday treats to school and planning and executing children's parties, as well as providing a place for families to come and enjoy old-fashioned treats and service. Is there anything else you want to add that we didn't cover? The ice cream sundaes are named after songs which can be played with 45s in the jukebox. D?cor can say a lot about the type of food a restaurant serves. How does your d?cor inform or reflect your culinary practice? Scooters is housed in a converted hardware building [that is] more than 100 years old [and has] lots of nostalgic antiques to bring back memories of times past. A soda-fountain area has been added with old-fashioned soda-fountain glassware on the shelves that serve the ice cream treats. There is an attached Mickey-inspired party room. In your own words, how would you describe your menu? The menu focuses on bringing back all of those '50s memories. It includes old-fashioned ice cream sodas, malts with the tin on the side, brown cows, and Boston coolers featuring Ashby's Sterling Ice Cream. Don't forget those hard-to-find egg creams and phosphates, and satisfy those hunger pangs with an Elvis burger or a Presley's Passion with french fries. Or, perhaps a pizza would hit the spot.

When you're ready for dessert, Sugar Bear's ice cream will hit the spot. At Sugar Bear, cautious eaters will appreciate the vegan, low-fat and gluten-free fare. Bring your whole brood to Sugar Bear, where families can dig in to tasty and kid-friendly fare together. The large dining space at Sugar Bear provides quick and easy seating options for large groups. At Sugar Bear, there's no need to confine your meal to a traditional dining room — outdoor seating is available when the weather is warm. Wireless Internet access is available for no charge at Sugar Bear. No suit, no problem! The dress code at laid-back Sugar Bear is ultra casual. If you're more interested in a cozy night at home, Sugar Bear also offers delivery and take-out options. You can also have Sugar Bear cater your next event. Parking is easy at Sugar Bear, especially those looking to park on the street or in a lot close by. Super-savers will adore the low-prices at Sugar Bear, too — meals there usually cost less than $15. Sugar Bear offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, so stop by whenever is most convenient for you.

In 1989, with memories of his high-school job as an ice-cream shop attendant fresh in his mind, John Ritter founded Ritter’s Frozen Custard to share his passion for the dense, creamy concoctions of his youth with a new generation of dessert lovers. Today, the Ritter Frozen Custard franchise remains dedicated to handcrafting frozen custard in batches that blend the treat’s French origins with a heaping dose of midcentury Americana. The rotating lineup of flavors always includes chocolate, vanilla, light vanilla, a nut variety, a fruit variety, and a specialty flavor—all of which contain a scant 10% butterfat. Clad in blue aprons, friendly staff members scoop custard into freshly baked waffle cones, blend shakes with a choice of 27 toppings, and decorate creamy cakes for any occasion. The shop’s mixologists never fluff up their ice cream with air, ensuring that custard that fills each cone, take-home quart, or waffle-lined pocket maintains a rich and creamy texture.

Whether you need help waking up in the morning or a mid-afternoon pick-me-up, the coffee at Looking Grand Cafe will do the trick. No need to miss out on Looking Grand Cafe just because you are avoiding fat or gluten. The coffee shop has loads of options that can accommodate your dietary needs. If time is of the essence, Looking Grand Cafe's take-out option may be a better fit. You can also have Looking Grand Cafe cater your next event. null Prices at Looking Grand Cafe typically stay below the $30 mark, so you can afford to bring along a friend or a date. Early risers and night owls alike can enjoy Looking Grand Cafe since it offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner.