Sometimes things just aren't at all what they appear at first glance. It was a cold, dreary, gray day in April when we first visited New Buffalo, MI, fresh off the "boat" from California. Someone told us it was "the Hamptons of the Midwest," so we arrived with high hopes. The tiny town looked practically abandoned and in the less than stellar weather, it was far from what we imagined. "Well, we probably don't need to come back here again," we agreed. Ha. Fast forward three years later when the craaa of Chicago city living had us both craving some quiet and New Buffalo ended up being our ticket to peaceful weekends and the best summer of our adult lives. After spending more time there, we discovered this place was truly, though unexpectedly, delicious, much like this simple kale salad. It might look plane Jane, but the flavors and textures of bold goat milk cheddar, crunchy chickpeas, herbaceous fennel and spicy chili flakes promise a partaayyyy for the palate.