ICYMI:~It's National Pizza Month poll time! What is the best pizza in metro Detroit? A national publication asked me, and so I asked you. ***I DID NOT MAKE THIS POLL*** and yes I know Buddy's is missing and that they totally missed the mark with the Supino selection (though that didn't stop you from voting for them by a landslide} and I think we all had a swell time making fun of these stupid selections, so thanks for playing! [EID]
*While in Auburn Hills last week, I stopped by Jo Angela's Pizza + Deli, one of the mystery pizzerias on the befuddling national poll (above). Solid round pepperoni pizza and cheese bread, a nice dining room with free Wi-Fi, overall a good experience. Best in greater metro Detroit? No. But a strong show for NoOaCo. [EID FB]
~The Detroit Bus Company has purchased a new 90,000-square-foot building in Hamtramck called Eight + Sand which will serve as an entertainment complex and business incubator with anchor tenant Fowling Warehouse, an event space for Pot + Box, and a 7-bay all-season food truck park with a commissary kitchen (coming in 2014). [Model D]
~Dine Drink Detroit started last week with 13 restaurants offering a variety food + drink pairings for only $15 including favorite local spots like The Sugar House, Mudgie's, Green Dot Stables, Woodbridge Pub, Traffic Jam + Snug and more, while also benefitting the Detroit Riverfront. [Model D]
~The numbers are in for the fall 2013 edition of Detroit Restaurant Week, sponsored by Shinola. Newcomers Guns + Butter and The Jefferson House killed it, as did the old favorites. [EID]
~I've written about Valentine Distilling Co. now (at best count) about a dozen times. The stories have ranged from short blurbs about the bar itself to longer interviews with owner Rifino. This most recent one for Real Detroit Weekly falls into the latter category, and if you'll excuse the quasi-Marxist intro (I was reading Matt Taibbi's latest for Rolling Stone at the time), the full-on "American manufacturing" angle is a fresh approach. [RDW]
~Who are Michigan's most dangerous chefs? Find out on December 8 as The Root Restaurant + Bar hosts their first-ever Young Guns Dinner featuring 6 of Michigan's up-and-coming chefs! Each Young Gun is overseeing one of six courses. Menus will NOT be posted in advance - if you have dietary restrictions, you're going to have to sit this one out. These guys are coming out with guns blazin'!
James Rigato | Andy Hollyday | Nick Janutol | Nikita Santches | Brennan Calnin | Michael Berrera [EID]
~CIDER MILLS! [EID]
~EVENTS! [EID]
Oh look, ANOTHER story about Two James Spirits, and this one is in Food + Wine! [F+W]Dan Carmody of Eastern Market Corporation was honored with a Shining Light award for helping make the market possibly “the most inclusive, resilient and robust regional food hub in the U.S.” Congratulations, Dan, and thank you for everything you do! [Freep]Another Michigander is appearing on a Food Network show! This time it's College for Creative Studies student Gabriel Vinas on a show called Halloween Wars, which premiered last week. [CCS]Detroit Vegan Soul (D.V.S) opened last month with a line out the door. Here owners Kirsten Ussery Boyd and Erika Boyd share more about their concept and why they thought a vegan soul food cafe is just what Detroit needs in Urban Innovation Exchange. [UIX]Have you been to the new Firebird Tavern in Greektown yet? The owners spent months renovating the 1880s building and it's beautiful inside. Also, good from-scratch bar food and good craft beer. [Detroit News]Tallulah Wine Bar and Bistro has been sold; previous owner Mindy Lopus is focusing on her Grosse Pointe restaurant Red Crown. [Freep]It will be the end of an era if/when Harpos Concert Theatre closes (though I can't remember a time in my life when going there was ever considered "safe"). [Motor City Muckraker]DONUTS! [Thrillist]CIDER! [RDW]I can't even keep up with all of the international press Detroit SOUP gets anymore, but here's another one. [DW.DE]Freakin' Unbelievable Burgers isn't the only Flint-area-based burger joint staking its claim in SE Michigan: Halo Burger is franchising all over the place, with plans to open up to 25 restaurants in SE MI by the end of 2014 and expanding into other states from there. [Crain's]What are some other "fast food" places (aside from Moo Cluck Moo and their much-publicized $15/hour wages) that treat their employees well? Zingerman's Delicatessen gets named in Bon Appétit Magazine's list with shout-outs from Z's to Corridor Sausage Co., Brownwood Farms and The Brinery. [Bon Appetit]Such a bummer. Gilbert's Lodge is an east side institution that was gutted by a kitchen fire last week. [Detroit News]We be jammin'. [Detroit News]Great story on Theatre Bizarre from Metro Times Detroit. Seriously, this event is SO worth your time and money if you're into Halloween at ALL. [Metro Times]Chef Michael Symon's cooking advice is less is more. [Freep]Beerie
~Detroit Beer Week starts next Thursday! Participating venues include Foran's Grand Trunk Pub, Green Dot Stables, The Jefferson House, Mudgie's, Rock City Pies, St. Cece's Pub, The Sugar House, Traffic Jam + Snug, and Woodbridge Pub. Some really cool events coming up, check out the growing list here. [DBW FB]
~Congratulations to all Michigan Great American Beer Festival winners! New Holland Brewing Co. took home medals for Pilgrim's Dole (gold) and Dragon's Milk (silver), while Bell's Brewery, Inc. (Official) scored a bronze for Sparkleberry and Detroit Brewing Company a bronze for XX Dwarf. Enjoy these award-winning beers during Detroit Beer Week starting this Thursday! [GABF Official]
~Atwater Brewery is getting ever-so-close to opening their Grosse Pointe brew pub and beer garden Atwater in the Park next spring, and are now hiring for this location. [Metromode]
~Ashley's Ann Arbor is still the beeriest bar in SE MI, according to the beeries of CraftBeer.com. [CraftBeer.com]
~The Detroit Free Press Film Festival will be held in March, but the launch party will happen on Nov. 7 at The Fillmore Detroit with a screening of The Michigan Beer Film. [Freep]
