[Fox News] Top 10 reasons to visit Detroit

Photo by Nicole Rupersburg.

While Detroit has now earned the notorious distinction of being the largest municipality ever to file bankruptcy in U.S. history, over the years its food, arts and cultural scene has been thriving. Business owners and community members have been hard at work trying to push for a rebirth of the Rust Belt town, and as a result has created a city filled with unique cultural and culinary treasures. Here are 10 great reasons to visit Detroit --and not to write it off.

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[HOT LIST] Easter brunch

Lemon ricotta pancakes at Rodin in Detroit.

A list, for your holiday brunching enjoyment. A lot of copy/pasting happened so do forgive any formatting errors. (And halfway through putting this together I saw this post, but it's cool 'cuz I still managed to sneak a few in that the Freep missed.)

[HOT LIST] Detroit Restaurant Week - A Room With a View

Iridescence. Photo courtesy of Motor City Casino.

Detroit Restaurant Week Spring 2012 starts this Friday, April 20th - 10 days, 21 restaurants, $28 three-course menus ... how does one decide? Each restaurant has its own unique aesthetic and culinary style. Maybe looking at the menus is all you need to help make your decision, or maybe there is a specific kind of ambiance you seek. Each of the participating restaurants is majestic in its own right, whether it be for its exceptional interior design or nostalgic throw-back appeal (looking at you, Roma Cafe; you too, Caucus Club). But if you're really looking for a room with a view, these places offer the best perches in the city.

#1 Iridescence (Motor City Casino)
Hour Detroit's 2011 "Restaurant of the Year" deserves accolades for more than just its exceptional cuisine (and make no mistake, as far as haute cuisine goes this is the absolute finest in metro Detroit and probably even all of Michigan). While some might argue that the Motor City Casino is a bit of an eyesore  (Christopher Cook, in that same Hour review, describes it as a "giant toaster"), once inside this 16th-floor two-story restaurant the garish outside matters naught - 40-foot windows give a panoramic view of Detroit's southern skyline - which, granted, is basically the Lodge freeway and a bunch of mostly-uninteresting buildings (the river is too far to be visible and the downtown skyline is only a far corner), but taken en masse at that height it's actually quite breathtaking.

#2 Coach Insignia (GM Renaissance Center)
Speaking of panoramic views ... Coach Insignia, of the Epicurean Restaurant Group formerly known as Matt Prentice Restaurant Group that is no longer affiliated with Matt Prentice, takes up the entire 71st and 72nd floors of the GM Renaissance Center center tower. Depending on the corner of the restaurant you're in, you may have a vertigo-inducing view of the Detroit River and Windsor skyline (from the elevator, bar and main dining room) or the absolute best view of the entire city of Detroit (from the larger rooms typically reserved for parties). It has the distinct honor of being the highest hotel restaurant in the Western Hemisphere; but take note, you may have a hard time with it if glass elevators and heights freak you out.

#3 Andiamo Detroit Riverfront (GM Renaissance Center)
Also in the Ren Cen, Andiamo offers an equally stunning view of the riverfront but on the ground level. Acrophobes can relax and sun-worshippers can enjoy the large outdoor patio right next to the Detroit Riverwalk. Day or night, indoor our out, the waterside dining offers stunning views of the river and the Windsor skyline.

#4 Fountain Bistro (Campus Martius)
Right in the heart of the Central Business District in downtown Detroit, smack-dab in the middle of Campus Martius Park, Fountain Bistro offers some of Detroit's best outdoor dining. Watch the fountain of Campus Martius from the massive wall-to-wall windows inside, or sit right next to it on their expansive patio. Surrounded on all sides by the towering skyscrapers of the financial district, this is urban outdoor dining at its finest.

#5 The Rattlesnake Club (Detroit Riverfront)
Located just off of the Detroit River, the Rattlesnake Club features a beautifully-landscaped "Garden Terrace" with a potted herb and vegetable garden and granite-topped tables with views of the river, as well as a second patio featuring a marble and cedar bar. Because the 'Snake is tucked away behind Stroh River Place, the space is quiet and exclusive.

Bubbling under Mosaic (Greektown), Cliff Bell's (Foxtown), Roma Cafe (Eastern Market), Angelina Italian Bistro (Grand Circus Park), the Whitney (Midtown)

The 5 Days of DRW: Fountain Bistro

Wild-caught Alaskan salmon, sorrel cream sauce, fingerling potatoes and haricot vert

When Fountain Bistro first opened in June 2010, it was a great place for a quick and casual breakfast or lunch, somewhere you could drop into during one of the city's major events and get a sandwich and cup of coffee on the go. The food was outstanding, but the hours catered specifically to business and events traffic, and it really wasn't the kind of place where you would hang out and relax.

After closing for several months and re-opening earlier this summer, the Bistro has been transformed: the space went through some remodeling and they now offer a full dinner service and bar. The new menu from Executive Chef Tyler Herron is kind of classic Americana with French inspirations: steaks, burgers, salads and seafood, but all just a little dressed up. You can get lamb sliders, oysters on the half shell, black Angus beef burgers, and Michigan Lake Trout Almandine, and as new participants for this season's Detroit Restaurant Week, their prix fixe DRW menu is a little bit of showmanship of what the new Bistro is all about.

Twelve-ounce New York strip, pomme frites and Maître d'Hôtel beurre

Co-owner of Fountain Bistro Jay Lambrecht is also an owner of Bookies Bar and Grille, and they have carried a lot of the same concepts over to the Bistro - sourcing as much as possible from local farmers and purveyors; making everything from scratch; highlighting seasonal flavors; serving hearty, simple, flavorful food. While Bookies caters to the sports bar crowd, the Bistro is more of an upscale, sophisticated environment. There are no TVs inside, but who would need one? The fountain of Campus Martius Park is right outside the window.

All photos by Nicole Rupersburg.

If Campus Martius Park is meant to be Detroit's gathering place, then Fountain Bistro is facilitating that. They seat almost 90 inside and another 160 outside on their spacious outdoor patio right next to the dancing fountain. During the summer, enjoy the warm summer sun and outdoor breezes along with the splashing sounds of the fountain; in the winter, cozy up inside with a nice warm cocktail and gaze out on the majestic Christmas tree and laughing ice skaters.

Day boat scallops, wild mushroom risotto and sautéed spinach

DRW FALL 2011 MENU

FIRST COURSE

Soupe au Potiron
(Pumpkin, sweet potato and crouton)
-or-
Bistro Salade
(Gass Farms mixed lettuces, shaved pears, walnuts, goat cheese croquette and lemon-thyme vinaigrette)
-or-
Galette de Crabe
(Fire-roasted red pepper sauce and microgreens)

SECOND COURSE

Le Saumon
(Wild-caught Alaskan salmon, sorrel cream sauce, fingerling potatoes and haricot vert)
-or-
Pan de Poulet Rôti
(Pan-roasted all-natural chicken, mushroom ragout, pomme purée and haricot vert)
-or-
Steak Frites
(Twelve-ounce New York strip, pomme frites and Maître d'Hôtel beurre)
-or-
Seared Scallops
(Day boat scallops, wild mushroom risotto and sautéed spinach)
-or-
Gnocchi Parisienne
(Pâte à choux, sauce Mornay and shaved Parmesan)

THIRD COURSE

Crème Brûlée
-or-
Chocolate Mousse
-or-
Raspberry Millefeuille

Real Detroit Weekly: Fountain Bistro

The quiche is rad, check it.

"Located directly in Campus Martius about 20 steps away from the magnificent fountain (and the towering holiday tree in the winter), Fountain Bistro is a venue unlike any other. Currently geared towards the downtown business crowd, with breakfast and lunch hours offering both speedy to-go service or full sit-down dining service (as well as business catering), long-term plans are to grow the concept and really transform it into 'what's happening' in the area. You can book a private party here and not just be stuck inside a restaurant, but also be able to have fun outdoor activities all around you, from summertime concerts to ice skating all winter.

'Fountain Bistro's official grand opening was just this past June, making this their first winter transition. They are introducing their new fall and winter menu this week, which focuses more on cold weather comfort food, since the fresh ingredients emphasized in the opening menu are now out of season..."

Read the rest of the article here.

Fountain Bistro Coming to Campus Martius

Remember when Au Bon Pain in Campus Martius closed and they said that an American bistro would be opening in its place sometime in the summer and I was all, "Yeah, that'll be the day that actually happens..."? Well, it's happening.

What I didn't know at the time was that John Lambrecht, owner/partner of Bookie's Bar & Grille, had already acquired the space and was moving forward with these plans. His track record with bringing Bookie's Tavern on Washington Ave. from a decidedly non-glossy neighborhood bar to an impressive three-story Bar & Grille on Cass Ave. with a 60-foot projection screen, a spacious outdoor rooftop patio, and a whole floor for private parties and VIPs should give the public some faith in his new venture. Announced today: Fountain Bistro. Read on, wayward sons.

The Detroit 300 Conservancy announced today a new casual dining concept, Fountain Bistro at Campus Martius Park, to open this May in the Park. Fountain Bistro is owned and operated by John Lambrecht and will offer breakfast, lunch and dinner in an atmosphere that blends the charm of a classic European café with modern American style.

“For the past two years John Lambrecht has managed concessions for Campus Martius Park during The Rink season as well as major events, giving him insight into the Park’s daily operations,” said Robert Gregory, Detroit 300 Conservancy President. A downtown entrepreneur, Lambrecht is owner/partner of the successful Bookies Bar and Grille in Detroit’s growing Entertainment District. “This experience, combined with his enthusiasm, keen sense of marketing, and understanding of the role of food and beverage will contribute to our visitor’s experience in the Park.

“Fountain Bistro At Campus Martius Park is going be a terrific addition to the Park,” Gregory continued. “I feel the concept that’s been developed for this bistro will be comparable to the cafés in top ranked parks and plazas in the U.S. and abroad.”

Lambrecht said “Fountain Bistro will feature a casual, but diverse menu, the convenience of carryout with the option for full service dining inside and on the outdoor patio, and upgrades such as a new color scheme and more comfortable furniture”. The bistro will be open year-round for special events and programs hosted by Campus Martius Park.

“We are making changes to the former cafe space that will make carryout more convenient for people who are in a hurry, and provide those who have more time with an enjoyable full service dining experience,” said Lambrecht. “Additionally, we hosted a focus group about the menu that gave us great insight into the kinds of menu items Detroiters want from our bistro. It’s an extra step that will go a long way toward making our establishment a welcome addition to an already dynamic park.”