For me, dining is much more than ingesting food.  I love the experience of sitting down with loved ones and enjoying a good meal with lively conversation.  On my recent baseball trip, I enjoyed some outstanding dining experiences.

Our first meal was at The Melt Bar & Grilled, a grilled cheese paradise in Ohio.  Using the “build your own” option, I selected smoked turkey, garlic portabellas and goat cheese for my sandwich.  It was ridiculously tasty.  My friends all had other choices, including JayHawk, who opted for three cheeses, chicken and bacon.  JayHawk’s consumption of that monster sandwich left us in awe and provided comedy fodder.  We left comfortably full and totally sated.

In Toronto, we had our big, nice dinner at The Keg Steakhouse.  I started my meal with a spinach and strawberry salad topped with a champagne vinaigrette.  It was fresh, light and so flavorful.  I followed that with grilled shrimp and garlic mashed potatoes, which were fantastic.  Others opted for steaks or chicken, and all really enjoyed their meals.  The accompanying bread rolls were so delicious, one of us (perhaps me) devoured two or three (or 10) of them.  As a bonus, the staff was incredibly helpful, friendly and attentive.

On the return trip through Michigan, we stopped at Bagger Dave’s, one of our favorite restaurants.  Three of us rank their burgers as top 5 of all time.  Plus, they have an awesome homemade beverage selection.  It seems on every trip through Detroit, we induct someone new into the Bagger Dave’s Club.  This time it was Chuck, who followed my lead with the triple burger.  Bagger Dave’s is slowly expanding west, and our hope is a Chicago Bagger Dave’s.

Some of my greatest memories from these yearly trips come from the meals, and this trip was no exception.  Sitting with my longtime friends in a restaurant away from home laughing, poking, debating and just enjoying each other is one of the greatest joys.

— John Wroblewski, online contributor