Bucharest Grill and Park Bar

The Bucharest Grill and Park Bar are a pair of harmonious roommates, sharing a lovely ground floor residence located at 2040 Park Ave.  Step up to the Bucharest Grill counter to order your food then take a seat in Park Bar, order a beer and wait for your meal to be served.

Bucharest Shwarma!

I will start with the shwarma.  In my opinion, one of the most crucial elements of a tasty wrap, shwarma, rollup, what have you - is certainly the pita.  Bucharest just knocks it out of the park.  So starchy and soaked with delicious shwarma juices, the casing for this tasty treat definitely exceeded my standards.  The vegetables were all grilled and fresh.  The sandwich was absolutely packed with rice, fried potatoes, the juicy and delectable pieces of chicken breast along with the veggies, garlic and hummus.  Bucharest really knows how to pack a punch into a wrap. And the accompaniments were equally as satisfying...

Astro Coffee

Get on your tight jeans and thick rimmed glasses, we are heading to Corktown!*

Iced Mocha On A Hot Day

Astro Coffee on Michigan Ave. in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit is fresh, exciting and refreshing.  Both the coffee and the food!

Restaurant Experienced - Roast

Who wants to see what a 30oz. bone-in porterhouse steak looks like?

Roast porterhouse for two!

At this time, it is appropriate to rearrange your dinner plans.  This steak was phenomenal; cooked to perfection.  To me, consistency and attention to detail are two of the most important qualities that a top-of-the-line restaurant must embody.  I ordered this monster medium-rare.  I got a medium-rare steak.  I was thrilled.

Aside: It is a personal vexation when a waiter or waitress asks what temperature I would like my entree and proceeds to serve me a steak however the cook felt like preparing it.  If I am just going to get a piece of well-done steak no matter what I say, then why bother asking?  In fact, why even ask me what meat I would like?  Just bring out whatever you feel like overcooking.

 This was not the case at Roast...

Restaurant Experienced - Sala Thai

If you like a little kick in the mouth, Sala Thai will gladly humor you!

Mixed seafood and beef with shrimp in a red curry sauce!

If you are an adventurous eater, Sala Thai is a can't miss experience.  The entire meal is brimming with authenticity and love.  That is my favorite, when you can taste the love that is sprinkled into every dish at a favorite restaurant.  I was treated like a king and served enough food for the royal army.  The curry was phenomenally spicy and the seafood was extraordinarily flavorful.  The beef was a highlight to be sure.  Thinly sliced and prepared with not even a hint of chewiness yet rich with the aromas and tastes of the bountiful curry sauce! And these two dishes were not even the best part of the meal...
The appetizers that preceded were even more tantalizing!

Spicy Monster Roll

Muscles

The muscles were definitely the highlight for me.  So flavorful and well prepared.  Again, dripping with the most important ingredient of all, love.  Succulent hardly even begins to describe this dish.  Not overly salty or chewy and incredibly moist and tender, the muscles were served in a bath of intense flavor and spice that I had never experienced before.  Delicious!

Sala Thai is a must for any adventurous eater.  If you are not into spicy foods or trying new things, it might not be the right place.  But if you are, do yourself a huge favor and go to Sala Thai as soon as possible.

Eat well everyone!

What A Weekend!

Even though this is how my weekend ended, I clearly had to start off this post with a deep dish bang.

The Original Buddy's Pizza!

What a wild weekend!  With so many things going on in Detroit, it was hard to keep my head on straight. Unfortunately, the Tigers hosted the Yankees.  We had almost perfect weather for the Grand Prix all weekend on Belle Isle.  It was Pride Fest in Hart Plaza,  The Red Hot Chili Peppers were in town and we even paid homage to nature's most delicious menu item: Bacon!

Here is a list of what I did:

Restaurant Experienced - Mercury Burger Bar

So, it has been a few days...  But I have needed every second to recuperate from this most recent experience:

A picture says a thousand words, and that's just the toppings!

Last week I went to one of Corktown's newer restaurants, the Mercury Burger & Bar.  Taking over where the Mercury Coffee Bar left off, the Burger & Bar has put together an intense recipe of rich flavors and creative menu items that will have you drooling!  The Mercury Burger & Bar was opened in March of this year on Michigan Avenue and 14th Street.  Originally named after the Mercury Train that traveled from New York to Detroit and on to Chicago, the Mercury Bar had long since closed. Today, The Mercury Burger & Bar looks to breath new life into a resurgent part of town, one wildly-filling burger at a time. More reviews.

Restaurant Experienced - Cass Cafe

The food at the Cass Cafe is as artistic as the works that decorate the dining room. Delicious and light, the menu has many options for all sorts of diets.  The house specialty is a lentil burger.  Though it seems quite simple, the consistency is incredible and the portion is perfect.  Normally, when I think of a lentil burger I imagine a dry patty that tastes like whatever spices are put into it.  The Cass Cafe has a different idea all together.  The burger was oozy but charred on the outside which provided a really unique and enjoyable flavor!  Still, there are many other highlights to the menu, like the wild mushroom tortellini with artichoke and sun dried tomato:

Delicious and lighter than expected

The food was fresh, well prepared and artistic; the whole dining experience was very enjoyable.  The bar serves beers from all over, including Motor City Brewing Works draughts to European and Asian selections.  The best part? The meal was quick and about $12 per person including drinks. Other dishes that looked wonderful coming out of the kitchen included the salmon blt and the burrito.  I highly recommend the Cass Cafe for those who have never been.  It is a quick and tasty way to spend 45 minutes if you are looking for a place to eat while in Midtown.

Restaurant Experienced - Iridescence

The crab cake.  Such a simple dish.  Some crab meat, some veggies, some starches, a little egg and some bread crumbs.  Mix it all together and fry it up.  Yet, somehow, it does not always come out looking like this when I try to make one:

Juicy, hearty and stunning!

At Iridescence, located on the top floor of the Motor City Casino And Hotel, the presentation of each dish is immaculate.  It feels like a crime to dig into each one.  The colors so vibrant, the garnish, decorative pieces, the dining room and the plates are all elements that make eating at Iridescence more than simply a meal.  Just as each waiter or waitress explains prior to taking orders, he or she is truly there to "guide you through the dining experience" that is refection at Iridescence...

Restaurant Experienced - Red Smoke Barbeque

If you are from the area and you consider yourself educated in the finer styling of barbecue in Detroit, then Red Smoke is a must-EAT.  As the city of Detroit begins to rebound, new restaurants like Red Smoke are going to open and challenge the status quo.  For five years, it was prudent to point beef brisket-seeking visitors to the city of Detroit towards Slows Bar B Q on Michigan Avenue.  With few competitors willing to stand in the ring, Slows has championed the most scrumptious compilation of barbecue flavors seen in Detroit since it opened in the Corktown neighborhood in 2005.  However, Red Smoke in Detroit's Greektown neighborhood is the new kid in town, and he is about ready for everyone to know his name!

Bringing with it a new flavor and a youthful spirit, Red Smoke has officially submitted a claim for the throne in the realm of Detroit barbecue.

Pictured above is the Triple Play, straight off of the Red Smoke menu.  The tenderness of the three meat dishes can be summed up quite simply: I did not need a knife.  By simply setting the side of my fork atop the tender breast of chicken and applying little more pressure than provided by the weight of my right arm, the delicious meat, wrapped tightly with sticky, crunchy skin, came melting off the bone.  The chicken was far and away the highlight for me.  The consistency of the pulled pork was almost incomparable.  I am not sure I ever really understood the notion of melting in your mouth until now.  The beef brisket had ideal texture and flavor to compliment the rest of the meal. In the end, the portions were too much for me to (def)eat in one sitting and I was forced to sacrifice substantial quantity in order to fight another day. 

OFFICIAL iEATdetroit BBQ POWER RANKINGS

Rank	Restaurant
1	Red Smoke

So, this marks the first entry into the Detroit BBQ Power Rankings.  Each time I review a restaurant, it will be inserted into the Power Rankings chart that corresponds to the type of food served at the restaurant.  Restaurants will be able to appear on more than one Power Rankings list.  For example, the Hamburger Power Rankings might include restaurants that will also be competing for the #1 spot on the Steakhouse Power Rankings list.  All aspects of a restaurant will be taken into consideration.  The food, the service, the atmosphere, location and price are all things that go into my decision.  As of today, there is one list, with one restaurant.  I guess I better get eating!

Always follow your nose...

Last week, I took a trip out to the historic Eastern Market.  My goal was unclear at the time, but I decided that only good things could come from surrounding myself with delicious food.  After about two hours of roaming around by myself, strolling from food stand to food stand, my nasal cavities were suddenly bombarded with the sweet aroma of a multiple-front attack.  I was hit head-on by sizzling sweet barbecue and flanked by chicken breasts, beef ribs and polish sausage blackening over the intensity of burning hot coals.  I looked at the sign above the establishment directly behind the grill, and it read, "Bert's Marketplace."  Needles to say, I got in line and ordered a bucket of rib tips to see what I had so clearly been missing out on.  The taste was more than I could handle.  A vice grip on my soul.  I immediately needed to find out who was responsible for such a culinary masterpiece.

Bert's soul food sign and some succulent sweet barbecue rib tips

I went up to the man leading the charge behind the grill.  I asked him, "Are you Bert?"  He was not. But he was happy to make an introduction.  I told Bert about my blog, and he introduced me to his publicist, Mr. Miller London.  Mr. London agreed to meet me on the following Thursday to talk about Bert's business and the programs the two of them were putting together to help make Detroit a better place.  I am not sure if Mr. London was as excited as I was right then, but by the end of our conversation Thursday night, we both had gained an enhanced appreciation for taking risks and meeting new people...

--

Last night I had the unbelievable honor of learning about the life of Mr. Miller London.  Mr. London runs a company known as Russell St. Entertainment, a music production and promotion company.  Even though music is what inspires Mr. London, his life is devoted to a much greater cause than Jazz, Funk or Blues.  Mr. London is a true pillar of our community.  He might not be written about in Crain's or The Free Press or even Hour Magazine for that matter.  Nonetheless, his story inspires such an incredibly positive dialogue about the future of our great city, its rich history and the paramount importance of changing the national perception of Detroit.

In the late 1960s, Mr. London took a job with a growing company based in Detroit called Motown Records. You may have heard of it. 

Not my picture.  Sorry for borrowing.

Mr. London worked in marketing and promotion which would allow him to develop his passion for music into a lucrative, Detroit-based career.  A well respected man in the industry, Mr. London’s work took him to Los Angeles, California when Motown moved their headquarters westward.  There, Mr. London was directly responsible for the promotion of such groups as the Jackson Five.  You might have heard of them.  

Mr. London told me stories about the Funk Brothers, the band that helped develop the Motown sound and recorded so many of our favorite songs.  A group of musicians so uniquely talented and wonderfully diverse that if the pianist could not make it to a recording session, one of the other members of the band could jump on the keys and pick up right where he left off.  Mr. London helped build and preserve Motown Records and their patented, quintessentially-Detroit sound that played on radios, televisions and turntables all over the world.  Even when he was living in California hosting music conventions, promoting bands and speaking to the youth groups of Los Angeles, Mr. London had Detroit on the forefront of his mind, returning twice a month to his family and friends in a city struggling to re-identify itself.

Mr. London left Detroit but he never forgot about his roots.  When the music industry rapidly changed in the 1990s, Mr. London saw something evolving that he did not want to be a part of any longer.  So he did what came naturally to him.  He sold his house in Los Angeles and went home.  An absolutely natural decision for one to make. It was time to go home.  


People asked him, “Are you going to move to Southfield?”  But that seemed foreign, the idea of leaving Los Angeles and almost going home.  Instead Mr. London returned to the home he owns in Detroit.  Sure, it took time for him to re-learn the city that he left behind twenty years ago.  But the neighborhood was still there.  Sure, there are some abandoned homes on the block. But all the grass gets cut.  Fine, there are not four-million people living in the city of Detroit any more.  But the ones that are left have something in common, they stuck around and they want to believe in a brighter future.  


“Detroit will be back.  And it is not going to take ten or fifteen years,” Mr. London opined, his attitude nothing short of infectious.  “You see in the 1920s, Detroit was the center of the country because of the river.  All of the factories were built along-side it so that everything they produced could be shipped out to other parts of the country.  Then it changed.  The auto industry created a melting-pot in Detroit.  Everyone was working side-by-side. Then Detroit changed again.  Now it is about time for another change.” 

Today, Mr. London spends his time devoted to rebuilding the community that he grew up in, the one that invented the Motown sound and changed a generation.  He gives his time and energy to raise funds and promote various charitable organizations that develop after school programs for kids, substance abuse counseling and other support systems for the people of his city.  But accolades and recognition; Mr. London desires none of those things. “I don’t speak highly of myself very well,” explained Mr. London.   The only thing that he hopes for is a return to prominence for the once-greatest city in the country.  You see, Mr. London is a living, breathing emblem of the city of Detroit.  A hero for community members and passers-through alike.  The city of Detroit is not going to change overnight.  The one certainty is that it is going to take the efforts of hundreds to make it happen.  Whether those people are in the news everyday for buying buildings and bringing business to Detroit or they are the silent types, the community organizers like Mr. London and his colleagues, they are the people that Detroit needs. Even though Mr. London and his family and friends have no aspirations for making the front page, one thing is for sure: you will hear about them.

Exciting News

I have a GREAT interview lined up for Thursday evening. iEATdetroit will have the first installment in a series of interviews with active community members that envision a bright future for our city. Look for the most exciting post to date this weekend!


In other news...


--


Meet me in Midtown. It's going down.

Yelp!

I ran across Yelp's Passport to Midtown! on Dig Downtown Detroit and I was happy to find out that most of my upcoming extracurricular activities had already been planned out for me.  From May 14-23, Yelpers are being encouraged to explore one of the fastest growing neighborhoods of the city.


You want the gist?  I'll give you that gist:


Every evening for over a week, Yelp is promoting a special event.  Excursions will range in genre from bus tours to brewery and pub crawls and from art exhibits to mind, body and spirit classes.  At least we know that everyone will be able to find at least one event he or she can enjoy. Schedule? BAM.  


There are also a few participating businesses that will be offering special discounts all week.   After wading through all the free cups of coffee and 15% off vegan meals (thanks hipster Yelp community manager), I found a personal favorite.  Vino Dream will be offering a 1.5 hour wine training course for two for $99 (normally $199), or wine list planning for a special event for $69 (normally $115).  Overall, this looks like a hands-on way to build some positive energy and get people to Midtown.




Count this guy excited!  Eat well everyone!

Detroit Restaurant Week

Just a reminder that Detroit Restaurant Week is under way.  Started on Friday April 20th, 2012 and ending on Sunday April 29th, Restaurant Week is a favorite tradition of mine.  I always believe in trying new things... When better than now?  The deal is simple. $28 per person for a three-course meal at one of twenty-one participating restaurants.  Drinks, tax and gratuity are not included.

Check out the website for Restaurant Week.  Here are the participating restaurants.  Call now for reservations or book a table through Open Table.  It might be easier to find some openings during the week but I would not hesitate to make a reservation.
I tried to get to one of my favorite spots last weekend but there were simply no tables available at any restaurants.  Which made me feel like this:

The face of disappointment

If 1950s era settings and formal dining is what piques your interest, take an adventure to The Caucus Club.  Two beautiful dining rooms, classic booths and the incredible wooden bar set the mood.  Oh, and some awesome food.  At one time the host to many advertising executives, Motor City bigwigs and lawyers all trying to make deals, the Caucus Club was a men's only dining room until 1971.  It was also the first paying job of Barbara Streisand who used to sing in the back room starting in 1961. If you go, try the Bullshot, the house specialty drink. It is a mixture of beef broth, vodka and spices invented in 1952 and guaranteed to put some hair on your chest.  The Caucus Club, in the historic Penobscot Building, has some particularly tantalizing photographs of some of the Restaurant Week offerings online. Thanks to MLive.

Pesto grilled chicken breast over vegetable marinara on the Restaurant Week Menu

"Detroit is a city that has seen many changes. The Caucus Club is a tribute to history. A place that is consistent on quality and service. A great place for business lunch, romantic dinner or a stop before the theatre, opera, sporting events or a night at the gaming tables." -- Tribute to the Caucus Club website.

Eat well everyone!

And so it begins...

Last week I found myself asking a lot of new questions:  What is going to move people?  Get them excited?  Where do I begin?  Where can I find the epicenter of Detroit culture, movement, history and food?  Can the Tigers be taken seriously with a player batting .056 in the lineup?

Tag the leading runner? Why?

All good food for thought.  And just like most people (I hope), thinking gets me really hungry.  So, I got in my car and headed over to the Eastern Market on Saturday to see what trouble I could get myself into.

If you have never been to the Eastern Market on a Saturday I can honestly tell you that you are missing out on one of the most inspirational, historically significant and sensory-overloading experiences our region has to offer.  Detroiters have been flocking to the corner of Russell St. and I-75 to buy the freshest produce that Michigan, Ohio and Ontario, Canada have to offer since 1891!  One of the longest enduring traditions in the city of Detroit, Saturdays in the Eastern Market are exciting for the eyes, ears, nose and mouth.  Six city blocks reserved for farmers, cultivators, chefs, restaurant managers, bakers, gardeners, singers, food enthusiasts and political activists of all kinds.  This is the pulse of Detroit on Saturdays, this is where the people are.

 Up to 40,000 people swarm the Eastern Market every Saturday

The Market is encircled by a litany of incredible eateries as well.  Supino Pizza, Russell St. Deli, Bert’s BBQ Pizza and Soul Food and the Farmer’s Restaurant (yelp) to name a few.  Over 90 businesses choose to make the Market their permanent residence in order to attract customers.  The culture of Detroit fills the air and it is so thick, you can almost feel it as you inhale the smells and imbibe sounds. 

Saxophone and drums on a beautiful Saturday afternoon

Every Saturday, Uncle Tony sets up his grill and his smoker in front of Bert’s and cooks some of the most delicious chicken, pork and beef that the world has ever had the pleasure of more-or-less digesting.  All day people can walk up to the cash register, buy 2lbs. of ribs for $10 and enjoy them at the outdoor seating or through the doors of Bert’s Jazz Lounge and Restaurant.  Inside, people can sign up to take the open mic and belt out some of the greatest hits that helped establish Detroit as one of the most important cities in the global music industry. B.B. King, Wynton Marsalis, Boy George and Betty Carter are just some of the names that have taken the stage at Bert’s to swoon the guests.  Berry Gordy himself would have been impressed with a couple of the people who sang last weekend.  Big old crooners, Whitney Houston wannabees and even a Prince impersonator dawning ass-less chaps were all pleased to entertain the patrons of Bert’s.  Everyone was feeding off of the energy of the food, the nice weather, the music and each other.  Feeling the love.  That is what its all about.  Bert himself even made time to talk with me amidst a crazy Saturday afternoon.  He told me he would be happy to let me do a piece about him for iEATdetroit.  (Obviously that got me pumped! So stay tuned.) 

Left: Uncle Tony loads up some rib tips. Right: The sign outside Supino Pizzeria! 

Overall, the experience of taking a day by myself and strolling around the Eastern Market was as heart-warming as any weekend I have had all year.  It made me feel great to see a party downtown.  Good hearted fun, welcoming people, diversity, music and food.  That is what I want out of life.  That is what makes people grow.   It makes sense that I am from a place that feels the same way!

Quick Re-cap(s)

Slice of the day

SUPINO PIZZA.  I said it.  It’s so good that you almost feel dirty letting the words out of your mouth.  As creative as it is delicious, Supino Pizzeria lives by the code of Owner and Founder Dave Mancini who wrote on his blog, "if you have good crust you can tr just about anything on top of it."  I tried the Slice of the Day: the Srping Sprung Early.  A white pie with roasted asparagus, Porktown coppa, chèvre and rosemary. Earthshattering.  I'll never be the same.  As people kept flooding the small store front with a hand written sign on the door stating, "One hour wait MINIMUM!" I couldn't help feeling like the one slice, so flaky, doughy, cheesy and light, was not enough! Want to learn more? Check out some reviews from Hour Magazine and Detroit Moxie. 

Rib tips

BERT’S BBQ, PIZZA AND SOUL FOOD. Ribs, chicken, brisket, pulled pork, Polish sausage and hot dogs so good you will not be able to stop eating it.  I mean, my stomach kept saying, “Hey, Adam, stop.  You are full.  No need to eat the last four rib tips!”  Needless to say my tongue won this battle in the never-ending war between taste and hunger!  Not a lot of reviews out there.  Check out yelp.  But seriously, just go there and eat the food, I promise a religious experience!

Dave of The Brinery

FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF THE EASTERN MARKET. If you are interested in learning more about the people who help stock the 5 Sheds at the Saturday  Eastern Market, what they are selling and how they are using Detroit soil to help grow and cultivate crops, I urge you to check out the website for the Detroit Eastern Market!  Here is a link to their blog, which is very interesting, giving direct insight to the people that are turning the gears of our city.  Without people like them, our city would have a lot less flavor, flowers, coffee and Zen Buddhist Collective kale salads (version 1 and 2). 

This has been a lot of fun!  Please follow me on twitter for updates (@iEATdetroit), like the facebook page and spread the word by good old fashion word of mouth!  Thanks everyone for the support.  Also, if you want to comment on the page and tell me how much you like the blog and what I need to change, I would appreciate it.  

Eat well everyone!

Raymond kitchen mgr. Russell St. Deli

Monk from Detroit Zen Center

Some of the many flowers 

The Zingerman's crew from Ann Arbor

Whitney?

Welcome!

Welcome to my new blog -- iEATdetroit! 

I am beginning a journey to tell the world about my favorite city - Detroit, Michigan.  I am not from the city of Detroit, but the metropolitan area.  I have grown up around the culture of this city and this region.  It is fair to say that the historical significance and shared cultural consciousness of this place has in every way enveloped my curiosity.  Detroit, to me, is really a gem of the Midwest; a city forged by the hands of its people.  The architecture and the monuments all emblematic of the sweat and strength it took to chisel one of the nation's most important cities from the sturdiest and hardiest of rock. The personality of this place has been developed in the image of the people who inhabit the shores of the Detroit River and the sprawling regions to the north: the men and women who worked on the assembly lines and who constructed these historic edifices.  The restaurant owners, the business executives, ticket scalpers and the parking lot attendants.  The musicians, the students, the tycoons, the Red Wings, the Pistons, the Lions and the Tigers.  It is the gritty working class and the stalwart winter wayfarers trudging through knee-high snowdrifts that define the attitude of our hometown. 

Perseverance. A stiff upper-lip.  These are the words we use to describe Detroit.  We are a hard people but we have passion.  Our people have seen what can happen when the rest of the world turns their back on you.  We want no pity.  We hate pity.  Instead, we callous; if we were not good enough for you when times got tough, then you will not be welcome when our city rises from the ashes.  And it will rise from the ashes.

--

If you talk to anyone from this part of the world, they will tell you a different history of the City of Detroit.  My favorite cab driver, Greg, will tell you about how he built Comerica Park and Ford Field.  He took his breaks sitting on the edge of the roof of the future football stadium watching the Tigers play ball on muggy July afternoons.  Greg will tell you about how construction stopped in Detroit and he took jobs in Kalamazoo, 150 miles west, just to put food on the table.  Now he is "retired" and driving a cab around the city to keep him busy and give him a reason to leave his home in the morning.  He'll tell you about "Sneaker Day." Back when the basketball team was actually in the city of Detroit, the Pistons used to let kids come to the game for free as long as they donated a pair of sneakers.  Those were the best days of Greg's childhood.  He could afford to watch his idols Dave Bing and Bob Laineer take the court and defend his city.


Head southwest across the highway and into Mexican Town.  You will be welcome with open arms.  Talk to the families and learn about where they came from.  You might be surprised to learn how their parents and grandparents took work up in a burgeoning metropolis and created a comfortable home where they were able to work hard and get paid in American dollars.  They took their family traditions and they opened a restaurant that is now run by the third generation.

When I was a kid, my father took me to the Polish Yacht Club and the Ivanhoe Cafe.  Now that is real food.  Opened in 1909 and managed by only two families since its inception, the Polish Yacht Club is like a mausoleum, reminding everyone of the rich history that was old Poletown. An establishment that has truly defied the odds. And just like the food, the people have a unique, hearty flavor that is hard to explain in three or four sentences.  The Polish people of Detroit are not like the Polish people from other parts of the country. The influence of the Polish community of Detroit is evident all over southeastern Michigan.  From Poletown to Hamtramck and north through the suburbs, there are first, second and third generation Detroiters with Polish roots.  They do not all cook delicious kielbasa but they may be leaders of the car companies and other business that once thrived and the new ones that will come in to fill the void.

You want Italian? We got Italian. Just open your eyes.  People of Italian decent have made Detroit their home for generations.  One of the best ways to enrich your life is to drive up Second Avenue and sit down at Mario's Italian Restaurant.  The experience of sitting in the same dining room where Detroiters have been stuffing their face with veal parmesan and lasagna for generations is one that everyone needs to have.  Period.  When they open the door, you become part of the family.  Whether you have eaten lunch there every day for 35 years or it is your first time, eating at Mario's just feels right.  Grab some tickets from the bar for a show at the Fox, they have them available for their customers to buy in a package that includes dinner and a ride to and from the theater.  Hospitality and customer service; these are long forgotten practices. But do not tell that to the staff that still don tuxedos, cook tableside and lay down a delicious portion of Italian relish and bread the moment you take your seat! Still, just because you have not been around since 1948 does not mean you can't whip up a mean minestrone.  The Angelina Italian Bistro on Broadway, right by Comerica Park, is a relatively new restaurant compared to Mario's, but the authentic, traditional and tongue-tingling family recipes are simply an extension of co-owner Tom Agosta's personality and family heritage.  He is usually in the restaurant at the host stand, happy to tell you about living his dream, unless of course the place is packed with hungry guests.  You might just have to order one of many Michigan-made beers they have on tap or order a glass of one of their "Quirky Whites" while you wait for a table.

Greektown is so much a part of Detroit and our culture that for many people, it defines the city.  A small, walkable neighborhood of restaurants and other bad habits, Greektown reeks of family, culture and, of course, saganaki, a traditional flaming cheese dish.  Just thinking about the smells, the music and the faux-greek script that smothers you as you walk along Monroe street makes me hungry.  And much like the aroma from the restaurants of Greektown, Greek culture cannot be contained by one small quarter of the city. The coney island restaurants that dot Woodward avenue from Detroit all the way to Pontiac each stem from a rich tradition of family recipes and entrepreneurship that defines the people and our community.

Vietnamese and Chinese culture.  Jewish heritage.  African-American history.  The list of influences on the history of our City is never ending.  When I am asked about what I think of the city of Detroit, I often have a hard time putting into words why I am so proud to call this area home.  It is certainly not because of the unemployment rate or the suburban sprawl or the school system or public transportation.  Instead, it is entirely about the people and their stories.  And the food. There is no more direct thoroughfare to the soul of the Detroiter than by way of food. Equally as elegant and refined as the city around it, our cuisine tells a story of an anthropological history both rich and bold. Our restaurateurs, sommeliers and chefs more storytellers and playwrights than mere cooks and managers.  This blog is meant to take those stories and passions and twist them into a credo, a mantra of sorts that will hopefully show the world that there is much more to Detroit than national news statistics and boring slander.

The beauty of Detroit is unique. The kind you have to be around your whole life to appreciate - or kind of squint your eyes and turn your head to understand.  Its obscurity, stubbornness and heartiness are the frills.  The sculpture that rests at the mouth of Woodward Avenue, the fist of Joe Louis, says it all. As beautiful as it is dark and as powerful as it is massive. Eight-thousand pounds of clay, steel and bronze.  

Ours is the melting pot of cultures that meet common struggles and attempt to defy the odds through hard work. These are the themes of the city of Detroit that make me proud.  Quite simply put, this is Detroit, here is our story.