One Week 'til BravoBravo!

Almost 40 different restaurants under one roof serving up samples of their signature dishes in an elegant atmosphere filled with great music and beautiful people all to benefit the Detroit Opera House. Really, where can you go wrong?

BravoBravo! is the Detroit Opera Houses's largest annual fundraiser, and is known to draw sold-out crowds of over 1,000 of metro Detroit's most fashionable culture enthusiasts. Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, BravoBravo! is widely considered to be the cultural and social event of the year. And it's next Friday! Tickets are currently $95.00 but will go up in price to $105.00 on Monday, so get them now. Trust me when I tell you it is well worth every penny. Just check out this list of participating restaurants:

24grille
American Coney Island
Andiamo Restaurant Group
Angelina Italian Bistro
Bourbon Steak
Cadillac Café At The Detroit Opera House
Canapé Cart
Chen Chow Brasserie
Como’s
crave + restaurant + sushi + bar
Culinary Associates “A Taste of Elegance”
D'Amato's Restaurant & Good Nite Gracie Jazz & Martini Lounge
Detroit Beer Company
Espresso Jazzy Café
Good Girls go to Paris Crepes
Infinity and Ovation Yacht Charters
Jacoby’s
La Zingara Trattoria
Majestic Café
Mario’s Detroit
Melting Pot of Novi
MGM Grand Detroit Catering
Mon Jin Lau
Moo Moo’s Organic Bistro
Mosaic
Opus One/Opus to Go
Roast
Saltwater
Sanders
Slow’s Bar BQ
Small Plates Detroit
Taste Pizzabar Experience
The Town Pump & Centaur
Tubby's Grilled Submarines, Southgate
Vicente’s Cuban Cuisine
Wolfgang Puck Grille
Zumba Mexican Grille

In addition to this, there are over 30 beverage sponsors (it's kind of like an open bar on speed), and there will be entertainment by the Cherry Poppin' Daddies, DJ Captn 20, jazz musicians in keeping with the vintage roarin' '20s jazz theme, and artists from Paxahau, Fusicology, and Funk Night. Truly a not-to-be-missed event, and for a good cause to boot.

I've had my dress picked out for months! (It has a lot of side ruching, which is good a disguising a belly bloated from over-eating.) I hope to see you there!

Model D: Downtown Pizza Makers Go Gourmet

Featured this week in Model D:

"Metro Detroiters are familiar with Detroit mainstay pizzerias like Buddy's and Pizza Papalis, and let's be honest: the $5.00 Hot-n-Readys from Little Caesar's are a great friggin' deal. But in the last year, Detroit pizza has taken on a new identity -- one that doesn't emphasize the fast-and-cheap so much as taste and quality. (GQ even noticed, naming us the No. 3 pizza town in the country.) We've seen an upswing of new pizzerias that cater to the pizza lover with a discriminating palate, and die-hard pizza aficionados couldn't be happier..."

(Read the rest of the story by yours truly here.)

Tea is the New Coffee: Goldfish Tea

I just recently discovered Bean and Leaf Cafe in Royal Oak, which I must begrudgingly admit (only because it's Royal Oak and I still remember the days of the Coffee Beanery and Brazil) I love. Their pastry case is barely a grade above Starbucks's but their coffee selections are phenomenal, and they also host photography exhibits so it's got that whole artsy vibe thing working for it. I was in Royal Oak once again last Monday and was tempted to stop in for another Vietnamese coffee (it has evaporated milk in it--perfecto), but something kept my feet moving until I stumbled across Goldfish Tea.

Goldfish Tea is a wonderfully unique cafe brimming over with authentic Chinese furniture and accessories. They sell ONLY premium loose leaf Chinese teas--there are no herbal teas, no blends, no freakin' chamomile. Chinese loose leaf tea. That's it. And that's brilliant.

(I can appreciate a healthy stubborn attitude in business--and for this business's sake, thankfully so can Royal Oakites who love a good exclusive cultural experience.)

I spent some time chatting up the very knowledgable clerk and discovered the owners actually lived in China for awhile, so all of the items inside are all actually from China--including the nearly immovable had-carved wooden couches and fixtures, all made from reclaimed wood in China, as well as the ridiculously cheap glass and stone jewelry on sale (I bought a sweet necklace of a heavy green glass leaf on a leather cord for $8.00)--apparently the owners, while living in China, would send all sorts of cheap jewelry to the States which would then be re-sold in flea markets, and now have this surplus of extra jewelry on sale in the store. There is also a variety of tea accessories (wooden tea boats, porcelain and clay serving sets) available to purchase.

The overall effect is a lovely, warm and welcoming space saturated in Chinese artifacts for you to enjoy your (albeit pricey) premium tea that you simply will NOT be able to find elsewhere (these aren't teas you can buy in a box at the grocery store), with a knowledgable and friendly staff willing to assist you in your selections and complimentary Wi-Fi access so you can relax and get some work done. And if you're hungry, Goldfish Tea sells a variety of delicate cookies and pastries that pair well with tea brought in daily from the Pinwheel Bakery in Ferndale.

I fell in love with this place immediately, as I'm sure you will too. Although walking around Royal Oak usually saddens me as I see so little remaining of the city it was 10 years ago (a quick mental inventory reveals about 10 original businesses that have withstood this last decade of change), it is new additions such as this that make me believe maybe it's not all that bad.

Golfish Tea is located at 117 West 4th Street, and is open daily 9:00AM-10:00PM.

All photos by Sean McClelland.

Detroit Synergy Supper Club Aboard the Detroit Princess Riverboat

Located directly behind COBO Center, the Detroit Princess is Detroit’s newest addition to the beautifully renovated waterfront. The Detroit Princess opened in June 2005, and is cruising for a wonderful 5th season. The former Louisiana casino has been lovingly renovated into a 5 story dining experience complete with brass ceilings, chandeliers, and engraved mirrors. Come take a step back in time as you experience the sights of the beautiful Detroit/Windsor skylines, enjoying a live Motown show on a dinner cruise.

The boat is enclosed with heating/air conditioning as needed, with outer decks for observing the gorgeous views of the Detroit and Windsor skylines from a unique perspective. Come witness the beautiful changes along the riverfront first hand!

Chef Rickey Hussey, formerly of Intermezzo’s (Harmonie Park), heads up a team of impressive cooks on board. For private cruises, the menu is flexible based upon the desires of the booking party. For this two and a half hour cruise, we will feature our most popular dinner menu selected by many parties aboard, also regularly featured aboard the dinner cruises.

June’s Supper Club will be held on Wednesday June 10th, 2009. Boarding begins at 6:30PM, Cruise will depart at 7:00 pm and return at 9:30 pm. The Detroit Princess is offering to Supper Club members VERY SPECIAL cruise price of $30, which includes tax and gratuity (regular pricing is listed on www.detroitprincess.com so you must call the office at 1-877-338-2628 to book with the Synergy Supper Club pricing). Cash bar available on board.

Wednesday June 10, 2009
Boarding: 6:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Cruising: 7:00 pm- 9:30 pm
1-877-338-2628

Captain's Five Entrée Dinner Buffet (included):

Prime Rib
Chicken Florentine
Teriyaki Grilled Salmon
Chipotle Apricot Glazed Pork Chops
Vegetarian Lasagna
Potato Dauphinoise
Cheese Tortellini with Pesto Cream Sauce
Wild Rice
Caribbean Vegetable Medley
Assorted Salads, Dinner Rolls
Dessert

Entertainment (included):

2 ½ hour cruise of the Detroit River
Live Motown Revue show by the Prolifics
The wonderful company of Detroit Synergy members!

Option:
If you would like to pre-purchase drinks, we will run a special rate for Detroit Synergy members – 2 drink tokens for an additional $8. If you pre-purchase, you can pick the tokens up at boarding. These drink tokens can be redeemed at the bar for a beer, wine, or well drink. Drinks are still available for purchase with cash on the day of, but will be just at normal bar rates, depending on the drink.

Feel free to pass this information on to your friends, family, and coworkers and purchase your ticket for June’s Supper Club event on the Detroit River Princess by calling the office directly at 1-877-338-2628. We will not be doing online booking for this special event at this price as this is a very special rate.

Space is limited, seats will be reserved on a first come, first serve basis. While tickets are non-refundable, they may be transferred to another guest should you be unable to attend on the date you purchased your ticket for.

If you have any questions, please e-mail supperclub@detroitsynergy.org

Cold Stone Creamery

Last Friday I was taking a pre-summer stroll through the D, and one leg of my adventures took me to the Cold Stone Creamery inside the Greektown Casino. Now let's cut the to quick: Cold Stone ain't cheap. But riddle me this, readers: where else, pray tell, can you find cake batter ice cream?

Indeed.

I had a taste for a little such sweetness, but decided to forgo the much pricier and calorie-packed "Creations" in favor of just the ice cream. While a spoonful of "Birthday Cake Remix" would surely have been heavenly, a cupful probably would have awakened my dormant lactose intolerance and, well, I still had a long walk home.

I proudly (and patiently--those special "Creations" take awhile to make, and if there's any kind of line you'll be waiting for awhile) waited at the counter for my humble 5-oz. "Like It" (that means small) indulgence. Be careful, the staff at Cold Stone Creameries are consistently persuasive, and they will all try to talk you into upsizing your order for only 30 cents more and twice the ice cream. But I don't want twice the ice cream; I want once the ice cream. It's a lesson in moderation and self-control (the sales pitch worked for the two customers before me, however). And still clocking it at a hefty 340 calories and 19 grams of fat, I think I made the wiser choice.

Yes, Cold Stone ain't cheap, and it ain't healthy neither. What this national chain is most famous for is their Signature Creations, utilizing a variety of different "mix-ins" which are blended into the ice cream on a marble slab with large metal spatulas as you watch and wait. (After the novelty wears off, the goods are still tasty.) The particular Creation I resisted contains cake batter ice cream, rainbow sprinkles, brownies, and fudge--not exactly diet-friendly. With all of their various ice cream flavors and available mixers, there are some 11.5 million taste combinations available at Cold Stone. Alas, for this I am not about to be nearly as adventurous as I am with places like (Proof), as my liver tends to bounce back better than my waistline.

For the slightly more health-conscious, there are "healthy indulgences" such as "Sinless Sans Fat" Ice Creams (no fat, no sugar), non-dairy sorbets and smoothies, and fresh fruit mix-ins. Ultimately these are probably about as healthy as a smoothie from Haagen Dazs, but mmmmm...Haagen Dazs...

(Actually the smoothies are all low in fat--save for the Pineapple Coconut Orange--though high in calories.)

After resisting the temptations of upsizing and handing over four bucks for a scoop of ice cream, I was pleased as plums walking out of the place, much to the amusement of the security guards. Apparently they know better than to get between a girl and her ice cream.

Cold Stone Creamery has a number of locations in the metro Detroit area; check the website for details. All are now operating on summer hours (hours vary by location), which for us Detroiters means that from 11:30AM-12:00 midnight seven days a week we can indulge our sweet teeth at the Greektown Casino location.

Hey, we walk more in the summer, it all balances out.

Upcoming Dining Events

-----------------------------------------------------
Saturday, May 16th: Royal Oak Wine Stroll

Join us on May 16, 2009 from 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. in downtown Royal Oak for the 5th Annual Royal Oak Wine Stroll, presented by the Royal Oak Restaurant Association in conjunction with the Downtown Development Authority.
As in years past, the wine stroll will offer patrons the opportunity to explore and experience the diverse restaurants the city has to offer. Strollers will enjoy featured wines and signature hors d'oeuvres from downtown restaurants and shops.
Participating restaurant locations include: Andiamo’s, Bastone’s, BlackFinn, Mr. B’s, Oak City Grille, O’ Toole’s, Oxford Inn, Pronto!, and Rock on Third.
Numerous retail locations will also be participating this year. Stores serving wine include: 5th & Fringe Salon & Spa, Bright Ideas Furniture, Chozen by BC, Cloverleaf Fine Wine, Creative Arts Studio, The Annex, Vintner’s Cellar of Royal Oak, Write Impressions and WOW Smile Express.

Several other retail locations will be offering appetizers and/or discounts exclusively for wine strollers, including Douglas J, LadyBug Shoppe, Noir Leather and Shine.

Tickets are on sale now at participating locations for the event, $30 in advance or $40 day of the event. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southeast Michigan and the Royal Oak Historical Society.

For more information, please visit www.rorainfo.com or www.downtownroyaloak.org, or call 248.246.3065.

Where: Royal Oak
When: Noon-5:00PM
Tix: $30.00 advance, $40.00 same day
www.rorainfo.com

-----------------------------------------------------
Monday, May 18th: Eric Soloman Wine Tasting at Mon Jin Lau

Call Mon Jin Lau for Ticket includes tax and Gratuity-all ticket sales are final
Reservations 248-689-2332 and ask for Sharon or Bryan

Over 2 dozen wines from Eric’s incredible portfolio of Southern France and Spanish wines

Ye Olde Wine Shoppe, Mon Jin Lau and the wine portfolio of Eric Solomon are
teaming up to bring you this incredible walk around tasting featuring some of
the finest wine values in the world! Eric Solomon was one of Robert Parker’s Wine
Personalities of the year, and he is one of this years James Beard wine award
semi-finalists!-Simply put-the wines he brings to us are incredible! The evening
will include access to over 2 dozen handpicked wine selections, Mon Jin Lau’s
famous appetizers and a special “Component table”. Advanced Sommelier Arthur
Black will be on hand offering added insight to the wines at the final table
showcasing some of the aromas and flavor components found in them and techniques
on how to pick them up in your glass. This table will feature 6 world class
wines with reviews of 93-95 points! You are sure to come away from this tasting
having learned something! Local Wine Merchant Dennis Walsh of Ye Olde Wine
Shoppe will also be on hand and offer special show prices on all the wines
presented during the evening. Don’t miss this opportunity to taste some of the
finest wines from the celebrated regions of Priorat, Ribera del Duero, Rias
Baixas, Rioja, Cotes du Rhone and more!

Where: Mon Jin Lau, Troy
When: 6:00PM-8:00PM
Tix: $30.00 advance, $35.00 at the door
www.monjinlau.com

----------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, May 20th: An Evening With Scott Woodward at Big Rock Chophouse

An Evening with Scott Woodward Owner of Appellation Wine Company:
6:30pm
Hors d’oeuvres
7:00 pm
Dinner
$100.00 per Guest
Inclusive of Tax and Gratuity
To Purchase Tickets
(248) 647-7774

Where: Big Rock Chophouse, Birmingham
When: 6:30PM
Tix: $100.00
www.bigrockchophouse.com

----------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, May 20th: Central Coast California Wine Tasting at John Cowley’s

Join us twice a month for our Wednesday night wine tasting featuring Sommelier Mike Larranaga. We will sample four wines each paired with a regional cuisine small plate prepared by Chef Zachariah Peterlin.

$30/person - Reservations Required 248-474-5941

Where: John Cowley & Sons Irish Pub, Farmington Hills
When: 7:00PM-10:00PM
Tix: $30.00
www.johncowleys.com

Hour Detroit's Menu Guide

This is a comprehensive guide to metro Detroit dining, complete with menus, reviews, and discount offers. A valuable resource for anyone interest in food. Click here.