MONROE - A website declared Monroe one of the top-five best small towns for food lovers in the Midwest.
RewardExpert.com, an online reward program service, revealed its rankings for the best food to be found in small towns across America.
In a list of 102 towns across the country, Monroe ranked squarely in the middle at 51, but ranked No. 5 in the Midwest.
The list cited stores and restaurants such as Baumgartner's, Alp & Dell Cheesery and Buggyworks as required visits for food lovers, along with the city's biennial Cheese Days festival.
Monroe placed behind Galesburg, Illinois; Wooster, Ohio; Hamtramck, Michigan, and first-place Traverse City, Michigan.
According to RewardExpert, the rankings were determined by weighing several different factors.
First, all towns required populations of 100,000 or less. Then, factors such as the number of restaurants per capita, restaurant reviews, presence of award-winning chefs, the number of breweries and wineries, the presence of food festivals and more were weighed against each other.
Monroe's ranking noted that Monroe has fewer restaurants than other towns on the list, but it makes up for it with the quality and history of its dining.
Jeff Ewald, owner of Buggyworks, said it was an honor for his three-year-old restaurant to be named alongside historic establishments like Baumgartner's, which was established in 1931.
"I'm tickled pink," Ewald said. "It's a pleasure to be part of a thriving foodie scene."
Ewald said that, as a longtime Monroe resident, he was glad to help support tourism to Monroe and the dairy industry.
Heather Luchs, manager of Baumgartner's, said she "totally agreed" with RewardExpert's assessment.
"There's so many options in town, and I don't just mean Baumgartner's," Luchs said. "The local cheeses enhance everything on a menu."
RewardExpert.com, an online reward program service, revealed its rankings for the best food to be found in small towns across America.
In a list of 102 towns across the country, Monroe ranked squarely in the middle at 51, but ranked No. 5 in the Midwest.
The list cited stores and restaurants such as Baumgartner's, Alp & Dell Cheesery and Buggyworks as required visits for food lovers, along with the city's biennial Cheese Days festival.
Monroe placed behind Galesburg, Illinois; Wooster, Ohio; Hamtramck, Michigan, and first-place Traverse City, Michigan.
According to RewardExpert, the rankings were determined by weighing several different factors.
First, all towns required populations of 100,000 or less. Then, factors such as the number of restaurants per capita, restaurant reviews, presence of award-winning chefs, the number of breweries and wineries, the presence of food festivals and more were weighed against each other.
Monroe's ranking noted that Monroe has fewer restaurants than other towns on the list, but it makes up for it with the quality and history of its dining.
Jeff Ewald, owner of Buggyworks, said it was an honor for his three-year-old restaurant to be named alongside historic establishments like Baumgartner's, which was established in 1931.
"I'm tickled pink," Ewald said. "It's a pleasure to be part of a thriving foodie scene."
Ewald said that, as a longtime Monroe resident, he was glad to help support tourism to Monroe and the dairy industry.
Heather Luchs, manager of Baumgartner's, said she "totally agreed" with RewardExpert's assessment.
"There's so many options in town, and I don't just mean Baumgartner's," Luchs said. "The local cheeses enhance everything on a menu."