[Model D] Green Grocer: Finding fresh food in greater downtown

University Foods.

The Detroit Economic Growth Corporation's Green Grocer program exists to strengthen the over 80 independently-owned full-service grocery stores in the city of Detroit. This is the last in a series of stories that we began in October, focusing on Lafayette Park, East Riverfront and Midtown.

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[Model D] Green Grocer: University Commons and beyond

The Detroit Economic Growth Corporation's Green Grocer program exists to strengthen the over 80 independently-owned full-service grocery stores in the city of Detroit. Each week for the next several weeks, Model D will profile a selection of these stores in neighborhoods throughout the city.

This week we're focusing on North Central Detroit, in and around the Avenue of Fashion and University Commons.

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[Model D] Green Grocer: Fresh food shopping on Detroit's Lower East Side

Food Town Super Market. 

The Detroit Economic Growth Corporation's Green Grocer program exists to strengthen the over 80 independently-owned full-service grocery stores in the city of Detroit. Each week for the next several weeks, Model D will profile a selection of these stores in neighborhoods throughout the city.

This week we're focusing on the Lower East Side.

Read more.

[Model D] Green Grocer: Remodeled fresh food stores abound on Detroit's West Side

The Detroit Economic Growth Corporation's Green Grocer program exists to strengthen the over 80 independently-owned full-service grocery stores in the city of Detroit. Each week for the next several weeks, Model D will profile a selection of these stores in neighborhoods throughout the city.

This week we're focusing on the West Side.

Read more.

The Week We Ate (The EID Week in Review)

This sums it all up nicely. 

ICYMI:
~You know, I thought it was going to be Bourdain who blew up the Internet this week. But no: it was me. [EID]
~Another week, another Young Gun. This week it's Nikita Santches of Rock City Eatery. Check out what he has to say about Michigan's culinary scene, the people who have most inspired him, and how he wants people to step outside of their culinary comfort zones. [EID]
~It's a long walk for a short drink of water, but this is what all the Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve fuss is about, and here's where you can get some in metro Detroit. [EID]
~Over on Detroit's East Side, these are the go-to neighborhood grocery stores. And not that I'm trying to be partial or anything, but Mike's Fresh Market is particularly impressive. [Model D]
~La Feria is now open for both lunch AND dinner, and celebrated a grand opening with Melt last week. [Model D]
~New beginnings are on the horizon for Rodin and previous Exec Chef Kate Williams. [EID]
~Treat Dreams launched Wicked Donuts on November 16, and have already started giving away free donuts to their Facebook fans. [EID / TD FB]
~EVENTS! [EID]

...man, I kind of killed it this week didn't I? *pats own back*

Eastern Market Corporation is in the news with yet another massive grant that will bring even more improvements and amenities to the ongoing Shed 5 renovation. [Freep]

And take a listen to Eastern Market Corporation President Dan Carmody on The Craig Fahle Show talking about the latest announcements of renovations taking place in and around Shed 5. [WDET]

Like or not (notnotnotnotnot), it's time to start thinking about the holidays. And presents! Mitten Crate is kind of like a CSA of artisan food producers from all over the state, and the monthly subscription box service brings together items from different companies every single month. Might be a good gift for the jaded "foodie" who has eaten (and Instagramed) everything. [Crain's]

Bagger Dave's Burger Tavern in Greektown delayed opening, originally slated for last Sunday. [MLive]

Revolver co-owner Tunde Wey muses on things. He is very good at musing on things. [Model D]

You may have seen some vague posts over the last day or so exclaiming "Save Hamtown Farms!" In Detroit it seems like we're always trying to save something and it does get to be a whole lot of white noise after awhile because really, who can keep up. So here's what's really going on with the property that Hamtown Farms inhabits and why people are trying to save it. [Eclecta]

Awhile back some blog somewhere listed the top sandwiches for each state after another blog about a year or so before had put together a list of the United States of Sandwich, naming the signature sandwich of each state (and on which a full year of sandwich specials at Mudgie's was based). So now Business Insider is taking a stab at it with their own version. For Michigan they picked Zingerman's Delicatessen's corned beef, the only super-specific "this exact sandwich from this exact place" selection on the list. Probably just corned beef would have sufficed, but also probably this is a better pick than the pasty previously named by the previous copycat blog. [Business Insider]

Red Crown launched a new bar menu last week. Cocktails and bar snacks? Sounds good to me. [Red Crown FB]

Another new place in Birmingham called Market North End opened and it sounds pretty interesting. [Detroit News]

After the news got out that legendary Chicago chef Charlie Trotter died last week after being found unconscious in his home, the culinary world expressed their sorrow...and speculation began. Verbiage was vague - vague enough to imply drugs, maybe suicide. Morbid and callous yes, but we're all guilty of it. Jeff Ruby of Chicago magazine wrote this editorial that manages to be both a heartfelt eulogy without being saccharine or sensational, while also addressing the unavoidably ugly parts of humanity - both Trotter's and our own. [Chicago Mag]

Beerie
~If someone were to ask you what Michigan does better than any other state, the answer is beer. And someone made a movie about it. And the Freep premiered it last Thursday. This is a story about all of those things. [Freep]

~Who put food in my beer? Turns out, a BUNCH of Michigan breweries (like Right Brain Brewery, Dark Horse Brewing Co., and Short's Brewing Company). Fun story about food in beer from DRAFT Magazine. [DRAFT]

~Pray for us sinners. Or just drink beer. [NPR]

~According to Travel + Leisure, Arcadia Ales is one of America's coolest breweries. [T+L]

~WIGGS! (From Dark Horse, yo.) [Freep]

[Model D] Green Grocer: East Side expands with fresh food choices

Fresh seafood at Mike's Fresh Market.

The Detroit Economic Growth Corporation's Green Grocer program exists to strengthen the over 80 independently-owned full-service grocery stores in the city of Detroit. Each week for the next several weeks, Model D will profile a selection of these stores in neighborhoods throughout the city.

This week we're focusing on the East Side.

Read more.

The Week We Ate (The EID Week in Review)

Behold: the douchiest of bags. 

ICYMI:
~On December 8, six area chefs will collaborate on a special "Young Guns" dinner at The Root Restaurant and Bar. Every week, EID will profile each of the participating chefs. This week meet Chef Michael Barrera of Streetside Seafood, and hear what he has to say about our local food scene and the important things about being a chef. [EID]

~Wicked Donuts is coming to Treat Dreams starting November 16. [EID]

~Some of the best grocery stores in the city are in Southwest Detroit. From authentic Hispanic food items and produce from Latin America to the most extensive selection of fresh baked goods, butchered meats, and hot foods sections to rival restaurants, places like Honey Bee Market, E+L Supermercado, Gigante Prince Valley, and others make simple grocery shopping an exciting adventure. [Model D]

~Eastern Market Corporation is a prime example of placemaking according to a new study released by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)'s Urban Planning Department. [Model D]

~I do a LOT of writing on the food and bev industry in metro Detroit, and because of that I have a LOT of knowledge on those subjects (also I'm a bit of an obsessive information junkie). I recently appeared on The Craig Fahle Show to talk about local meaderies. I put together some notes on places like B. Nektar, Schramm's Mead, and Kuhnhenn Brewing Co., which of course I never used. But DAMN there is a lot of good info in there, so I'm sharing it all with you. Here's your total mead primer, beginning at the beginning with loads of info on metro Detroit meaderies. [EID]

~Upcoming events! [EID]

Eddie Huang was profoundly affected by Detroit because abandoned buildings. Watch all of the profoundness in his three-part show when he eats burgers with a rapper, whips his wang out and pisses in a street (because, you know, when in Detroit), and visits our version of the Springfield Tire Fire. [Freep]

It's been over a year since La Feria Detroit took home the top prize in the 2012 Hatch Detroit competition, and Detroiters have been waiting patiently as we've watching the building take shape. Now they are officially open for lunch and dinner! Urban Innovation Exchange checks in with co-owner Elias Khalil in anticipation of the opening. Did you know he wrote the book on the Cass Corridor? Read on. [UIX]

The anticipation just keeps building: Detroit Institute of Bagels opens next month! [DIB FB]

Anthology Coffee has expanded their hours and are now open on Sundays at Ponyride! They are now open every day 9am-4pm. [Anthology]

Congratulations to B. Nektar Meadery, who just received their federal brewing license! The meadery will now start making braggots, beer/mead "hybrids" that require a brewery license to produce. [EID]

Blood soup, glands, bone marrow, and other organs? Yep, you can eat those here in metro Detroit! Here are some of metro Detroit's scariest foods, just in time for Halloween! Braaaaaaaaaaains... [Freep]

The Daily Meal lists 7 reasons to visit a Detroit Lions game. Local food reasons like McClure's Pickles Bloody Mary, The Sugar House, SLOWS BAR BQ, Russell Street Deli, Pegasus Taverna, Zingerman's Creamery, and Hungry Howie's Pizza. [The Daily Meal]

The Downtown Farmer's Market Detroit may be over for the season (along with most of the other farmers markets), but Brother Nature Produce will continue on through the winter thanks to their hoop houses, though now owner/farmer Greg Willerer, who quit his job as a teacher to become an urban farmer, does get a little bit of a break. [UIX]

Here's what Blaze Pizza in Royal Oak looks like. [Thrillist]

Smoke Street Restaurant is now open in Milford in the former Cinco Lagos/Five Lakes Grill space. [Prosper]

Check out The Oakland's Shane Bang at the Las Vegas Cocktail Competition sponsored by GQ. [YouTube]

[Model D] Green Grocer: Fresh food aplenty in Southwest Detroit

Honey Bee Market

The Detroit Economic Growth Corporation's Green Grocer program exists to strengthen the over 80 independently-owned full-service grocery stores in the city of Detroit. Each week for the next several weeks, Model D will profile a selection of these stores in neighborhoods throughout the city.

This week we're focusing on Southwest Detroit.

Read more.

The Week We Ate (The EID Week in Review)

From Imperial.

ICYMI:
~ For the next several weeks, I'll be profiling many of the full-service supermarkets throughout Detroit for Model D as part of a Green Grocer series for the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation. We started this week with select neighborhoods in northwest Detroit featuring stores like Metro Foodland, Glory Supermarket, and more. Now when people ask you "where do you buy groceries in Detroit [besides Whole Foods]," you can point them here. [Model D]

~Approved! Congratulations to Detroit City Distillery; they've been approved as a distillery by the city and will start major construction on their space in Eastern Market next month. They're looking to open next spring. [Model D]

~A pedal-powered brewery in Detroit? Shawn and Aaron Grose of Windmill Pointe Brewing Company want to make it happen. [EID]

~Tickets to One-Eyed Betty's FestivALE are now on sale! $20 in advance/$25 at the door. Christmas, seasonal, and flagship beers from Bell's Brewery, Inc. (Official), Arbor Brewing Company, and Dark Horse Brewing Co., plus a 30-tap takeover of Short's Brewing Company inside and a special booth of extremely limited Christmas ales from St.Bernardus, Unibroue, and more. Whole animal roasts and tons of decadent cold weather comfort food. This is going to be THE holiday party! [EID]

~Downtown Detroit's Bagger Dave's Burger Tavern is set to open November 10. [EID]

~What's going on this weekend and next? Oh just ALL OF THIS. [EID]

First We Feast has the trailer for the Fresh Off The Boat With Eddie Huang Detroit episode, in which he eats burgers with rapper Danny Brown and does other things. [FWF]

Not all of Corktown has found the pot of gold at the end of the Detroit Is Cool Now rainbow. PJ's Lager House has struggled since the day PJ bought it despite introducing a (very good) food menu in the past couple of years to bring in more business. Bottom line: it might seem like business is booming for all the trendy businesses, but such is not the case for everyone. [Crain's]

The next statewide MLive.com search: Michigan's best pizza. Dear Gonzo, you need an official Detroit consultant. And that person should damn well be me. Please someone make this happen. [MLive]

Imperial is once again hosting their Day of the Dead celebration this year from October 31-November 2 and the skulls designed by local artists for the charity art auction are even more amazing this year than last, PLUS they have a killer special menu with three different kinds of tamales and of course, special drinks as well. These guys know how to do shit, for real. And here are the skulls. [RDW / Imperial FB]

Dia de los Muertos is coming up (Nov 1-2). Celebrate with Savor Southwest by visiting the dozens of ofrendas displayed at restaurants, stores, businesses, and churches throughout the neighborhood. And here's a handy guide to all of them! [SDBA]

Royal Oak is get yet another pizzeria bar and cafe next year, this one called Iron Horse. This is in addition to the Blaze Pizza that opened today and Trattoria Da Luigi that opened just a couple of months ago, plus Pizzeria Biga - Royal Oak and...that...other one. The name of which I forget. It's right on Main Street. Something Neapolitan-nana-something. And the Franklin Cafe that opened earlier this year, which has fallen way short of the really cool cafe/market I thought it would be. [RO Patch]

Bistro 82 and Sabrage are moving along in Royal Oak (in the old Sangria space) and could be open by mid-November. The word "ultra-lounge" still makes me skeptical, even though the chef they have is outstanding. I mean, the place could have a great chef but still be super-douchey, you know? [RO Patch]

B. Nektar continues to grow and expand, now adding New York to their growing list of distribution markets. Plus, B. Nektar's Evil Genius IPA-style mead has been out of production for awhile but Honey Bee Market still has a ton left for all you merds out there. [BeerPulse / EID FB]

Eastern Market Corporation: the go-to example of placemaking from Next City. [Next City]

Couple of factual gaffes here (Tom's Tavern is in Detroit, not Ferndale; Dangerously Delicious pies vacated Comet Bar months ago, and the then-editor of Thrillist even wrote a story on it for this very same publication), but an otherwise nice rundown of some of Detroit's best dives. [Thrillist]

Under The Radar Michigan stopped in Detroit for a full episode and covered Shinola, Dangerously Delicious Pies Baked in Detroit, and Diner en Blanc on Belle Isle. [PBS]

Most of you will probably roll your eyes, but the Starbucks inside of the Crowne Plaza Detroit Downtown-Convention Center is now open. Good for travelers and for when locals are staycationing and in need of immediate caffeine. [EID FB]

Misc.
~Some excellent advice for you all working and aspiring chefs out there from Marc Vetri. (Most of this advice can very easily be translated into most other professions too; it is the ethos that is important here.) [HuffPo]

~America is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay behind on tea, the world's second-most popular beverage (second only to water). Starbucks is looking to change that, aiming to do for tea what they did for coffee. [Freep]

~Yessy yes yes. [EID FB]

~Anyone else remember going to the local police station to have your Halloween candy scanned after trick-or-treating? The poisoned/needle-stuck-inside candy scare was big in the '80s; not sure if it's even still really a thing now. [some blahg]

[Model D] Green Grocer: A fresh food oasis in Northwest Detroit

Metro Foodland

The Detroit Economic Growth Corporation's Green Grocer program exists to strengthen the over 80 independently-owned full-service grocery stores in the city of Detroit. Each week for the next several weeks, Model D will profile a selection of these stores in neighborhoods throughout the city.

This week we're focusing on the neighborhoods of Northwest Detroit: Grandmont-Rosedale, Rosedale Park, Old Redford, and 7 Mile and Evergreen.

Read more.

[Model D] Gateway Marketplace signals transformational change to the new "Uptown"

The much-anticipated Meijer located at the new Gateway Marketplace on the southeast corner of Eight Mile and Woodward Avenue is scheduled to open July 25. While this might not actually be the most buzzed-about grocery store opening in recent memory, it is no less significant.

"(Gateway Marketplace) allows us to command a higher and better use (for vacant land along the Eight Mile corridor)," says Tami Salisbury, Executive Director of the Eight Mile Boulevard Association. "It makes our large parcels of land more and more attractive. (We) have very large parcels of land that are available for investment."

Read more.

The Week We Ate (The EID Week in Review)

Metal up your ass and in your mouth.

In case you missed it:
~So this grocery store opened. It was kind of a big deal. (It even has its own beer.) [EID]
~So this band played a big show on Belle Isle with a bunch of other bands and 50,000 people. It, too, was kind of a big deal, despite what your typical low-rent Detroit hipster would have you believe with their soul-sucking snark. (Actually that also applies to the point above, too.) Anyway, if you want to keep it all metal all the time, eat these. [Orion / EID]
~This week I went back to the future of food trucks, following up on a series I started two years ago in Metromode and Concentrate. [Metromode]

Another mission of Whole Foods Market Detroit -- nay, THE MOST IMPORTANT GROCERY STORE IN THE WORLD -- is to not just CARRY healthy products, but also teach people about them and how to cook with them. They have quite a bit of (free) programming geared around this too. [Freep]

And here's a short video from Crain's Detroit Business interviewing Whole Foods Market Community Liaison Amanda Musilli. [Crain's]

And more on Whole Foods Market Detroit from the The Wall Street Journal. [WSJ]

And this is what I meant by "demonstrable." [Freep]

Musical dining room chairs continue as Chef Daniel Campbell, formerly of Silver Pig Restaurant Group, steps in to replace Andy Hollyday of Michael Symon's Roast, who will leave to open his own restaurant. Also: ANDY HOLLYDAY IS OPENING HIS OWN RESTAURANT. If you've had your ear to the ground there have been rumors and whispers about this for awhile, and now it is confirmed. Hollyday's new joint will open in Midtown later this year. Stay tuned as there will be lots and lots more to come on this one. [Freep]

Turns out famous people love pizza - first Christina Hendricks professes her love for Supino in Esquire, then some dude from Breaking Bad and Low Winter Sun dines at Pizzeria Biga Royal Oak. STARS ARE JUST LIKE US! [Esquire / Detroit News]

Hard cider and a winery are coming to Blake's Cider Mill in Armada. It's like all my dreams are coming true. [Voice News]

The pop-up has passed, but I have a feeling this Local C team is one to watch. [EID FB]

"So, Amy, what do you do?" "Well, just this week I was honored by the White House as a Champion of Change for my work with Detroit SOUP. What do you do, Nicole?" "I post links to Facebook with snarky captions and have over 1,000 followers on Instagram." Thankfully I managed not to drool all over myself while chatting with Amy Kaherl during Creative Mornings Detroit last Friday. [Freep]

For my next public engagement, check out this Detroit Food Experience tour with The Detroit Bus Company on June 29. We'll hit Traffic Jam and Snug, have a picnic in Clark Park with tacos from the Los Unicos truck, then get a guided tour of the Corridor Sausage Co. production facility in Eastern Market Corporation! [Det Bus Co]

Detroit definitely had grocery stores on the brain this week. Produce in general, really. Farmers markets overall. [Freep / WSU / Freep]

Urban farming in Detroit: people did it before it was cool. [Freep]

Green Dot Stables celebrates one year of selling sliders by playing the ponies and offering up free beer and BBQ with however many hundreds of their closest friends. [Thrillist]

RIP Jerry from American Coney Island. [American Coney Island FB]

Dangerously Delicious Pies Baked in Detroit's Rodney Henry is a finalist on Next Food Network Star! Which I'm not sure if that's new news or old news but woooooooooo! [Food Network]

In honor up MLive's upcoming state-wide best burger challenge, AnnArbor.com (part of the MLive publication group) posted this slideshow of Washtenaw's wackiest burgers. Also, if you would like to partake of the challenge yourself or recreate it in your free time, here is their full burger-eating schedule for the week. [AnnArbor.com / MLive]

Avalon celebrated their sweet 16 this weekend with, naturally, sweets! [Avalon FB]

And the Rattlesnake celebrates 25 years. [Freep]

The next big thing in booze? Local small-batch spirits. It's already well underway. [MLive]

So, what did Michigan drinkers vote as the best cocktail bars in the state on Michigan Radio? These. [Michigan Radio]

Knight's Steakhouse will be coming to downtown Ann Arbor with their quality meats and cocktails. [AnnArbor.com]

Jolly Pumpkin Brewery makes Weekly Pint's list of the 20 best sours of summer for their La Roja Grand Reserve. [Weekly Pint]

You guys, social media! [Crain's]