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| Photo from Arts, Beats and Eats |
It just so happens I have the inside scoop on the menu items for this year's Arts, Beats and Eats, held this Friday through Monday in downtown Royal Oak. (Because I'm working the festival and just put together the spreadsheet with the menu items yesterday, is why.) Here I present what I think are some of the highlights of this year's festival foods, presented in no particular order and with the occasional editorial note, straight from the source.
Soaring Eagle
Sliced New York Strip with crab beignet - beignet you say? Yes please!
Four cheese bread
Buttered popcorn ice cream - that is not a typo
Prime rib sandwich
Siniikaung slider
Mercurio's
Chicken on a stick - all-natural hand-breaded fresh (not frozen) chicken; devotees swear this is the best of the festival fried chicken
Chicken tenders with fries
Buffalo wings with fries
Fresh cut fries
Chili cheese fries
Butterfly chips
Union Jack's
A long-time festival favorite, this catering-only company has no restaurant but consistently has shown the strongest draw year after year, festival after festival; the fish 'n chips are mandatory, as is the deep-fried Mars bar...and pickles...and Twinkie
Fish 'n chips
Deep-fried pickles
Deep-fried Mars bar
Deep-fried Twinkie
Corn dogs
Fries
Taste and Tell
Caribbean chicken on a stick
Garlic crab boil - no way this won't be awesome
Fish or shrimp with fries
Peas and rice
Plantains - same here
Lockhart's BBQ
Sliced brisket
Burnt ends - the BEST
Carolina pork sammy
Mac + cheese
Coleslaw
Hamlin's Corner
Parmesan garlic, Cajun or buttered Michigan sweet corn on the cob
Sangria
Paella Valencia
Hudson Café
Huevos Rancheros
Red velvet pancakes - a hit every time
La Marsa
Shish tawook + rice
Fattoush tawook salad
Chicken shawarma + rice
Lamb kabob + rice
Kouzina Greek Street Food
Original gyro
Yiayia's Baklava
Mitchell's Fish Market
Pot roast slider with balsamic onion glaze
Chilled Asian shrimp taco with Napa cabbage slaw
Lobster roll with lettuce + tomato - the festival's fanciest food!
Andre's Lousiana Seafood Sandwich Shop
Jambalaya or etouffe crawfish with rice - a festival favorite
Mac + cheese
Seafood pasta - a new item owner Andre promises will be even better than the etouffe
Farm-raised fried catfish
Fried chicken wings with fries
Homemade sweet potato pie
Slab + Slice
Corn on the cob: butter garlic parmesan or Jamaican rub
Award-winning baby back ribs with coleslaw
BBQ pulled pork slider with coleslaw
Macaroni salad
Sheraton Novi
Chocolate mousse shooter + Oreo crumble + whipped cream
Strawberry shortcake + fresh Michigan strawberry sauce + whipped cream
Brownie overload + Starbucks hot fudge + whipped cream + chocolate shavings
