[Model D] Eastern Market is a prime example of urban placemaking according to MIT

Eastern Market

A study conducted by the Department of Urban Studies and Planning (DUSP) at MIT that was just released last week that explores the evolution of the urban planning and design of public places toward placemaking, evaluating high-profile placemaking projects throughout the country including Detroit's Eastern Market.

Read more.

[HOT LIST] Cider mills

Blake Orchards and Cider Mill. All photos by Nicole Rupersburg.

For Michiganders, "fall" means apple orchards and cider mills. We all have fond childhood memories of heading out for a day in the country to one of the old-fashioned cider mills where we would drive through the apple orchards and pick our own apples, get our faces covered in sticky caramel as we devour a huge caramel apple, drink cider straight from the gallon and eat warm fried doughnuts while sitting on a picnic table outside watching the brilliant leaves twirl through the air, then afterwards trolling through the pumpkin patches to find that perfect pumpkin to desecrate for Halloween. The urban cider mills are nice because they're convenient, but a cider mill experience is supposed to be a JOURNEY (sorry Franklin Cider Mill, but you just never quite cut it), a full day spent an hour's drive out into the country with the full-blown agricultural experience. If you can't smell horse poop and burning leaves, you're in the wrong spot. THIS is what autumn in Michigan is all about.

#1 Blake Orchards Cider Mill Armada
There are three Blake Farms locations, but this is the ONE. This is a full-blown farm operation with U-pick fruit all summer and fall (as well as cut-your-own Christmas trees in the winter), pumpkin patches, a huge cider mill serving hot and cold cider where you can even watch the cider being made, fresh fried doughnuts in three different flavors, an assortment of different caramel apples and blocks of homemade fudge in a rainbow of colors and flavors, a whole market full of produce and jams and other goodies, a Cafe, a petting zoo, one of those inflatable jumper-things for the kids and the grown-ups who act like kids, nighttime hay rides and bonfires, and more we're probably missing. Having been raised on the original Blake's, a huge property full of childhood adventure and things to explore, every other cider mill since has been a disappointment. This is the real deal.

UPDATE: The 10,000-square-foot Blake's Cider House and Winery is now officially open for business! It is the first cider house and winery in Southeast Michigan and uses their own apples grown on the family farm. They hope to start distributing their hard ciders next year. Blake's Ciders are available in four flavors: original, gentleman's dry, semi-sweet, and autumn apple. The cider house will be open through the holidays.

#2 Spicer Orchards Fenton
We may have a sentimental attachment to Blake's, but Spicer comes in a close second. They also have U-pick fruit all summer and fall, fresh doughnuts and cider you can watch being made as well as other treats and sundries, a particularly beautiful property full of play areas and activities for the tots (like sand art and face painting), inflatables and train rides (in a REALLY cool train) on weekends, a farm animal barn, hot kettlecorn, pig roasts, pumpkin picking, bonfire parties, a corn maze, and if ALL that wasn't enough, they also have a winery. And YOU were gonna go to Franklin. HA! Pfff.

#3 Hy's Cider Mill Romeo
It's a small operation but you can still pick your own apples, and those metro Detroiters most in the know agree that Hy's has the BEST cider, and that's reason enough to visit. The store is also particularly cute and quaint in that country kind of way.

Pumpkin patch at Blake's.

#4 Diehl's Orchard and Cider Mill Holly
Diehl's is yet another adventure destination orchard and cider mill. Take a private tour of the facility during the week, enjoy dinner and an evening hayride followed by a campfire, or take a daytime hayride through the orchard and pumpkin patch (great for groups). There are tons of weekend activities for the kids (hay piles and pony rides; you can even see their turkeys in the birdhouse), and don't miss their annual Ciderfest every year to kick off cider season with a Fun Run and craft show.

#5 Yates Cider Mill Rochester Hills
Yates isn't quite out in the far-flung country, but it's also not a quick stop en route from West Bloomfield to Somerset Mall, either (poor Franklin keeps getting picked on). They have a cider mill, a fudge shop and an ice cream store; there are no orchards to wander or fruit to pick, but there is a cute little river walk with a swinging bridge and there are also pony rides and a petting zoo for the kids. If you have the cider mill itch but can't quite spare a full day to spend out in the country, Yates will scratch 'ya just fine.

UPDATE: Yates celebrates their 150th birthday this year.

UPDATE: Honorable Mention - Paint Creek Cider Mill Oakland Township
Previously not included on this list because they were not in fact really a mill, Paint Creek has since expanded their operations to be open year-round with an expanded food menu including weekend barbecues, and now also produce their own craft sodas AND started pressing their own cider for the first time ever this year.

UPDATE: Honorable Mention - Miller's Big Red Orchards Washington Township
In addition to selling fresh baked goods made from scratch daily in their expanded bakery and fresh cider made from their own apples, Miller's also offers U-pick apple and pumpkin picking, a petting zoo, and a corn maze. Miller's is also getting licensed to open a brewery and winery next year and will even produce spirits. Their farm store sells a variety of organic produce and produce from area farms year-round.

Bubbling under Franklin Cider Mill (Franklin), Westview Orchards and Adventure Farm (Washington), Plymouth Orchards and Cider Mill (Plymouth), Parmenter's Northville Cider Mill (Northville), Dexter Cider Mill (Dexter)

This post originally ran on October 18, 2011. It was updated on October 11, 2013.

Want to see more? Check out the Flickr set here.

[Hour Detroit] The Need for Mead

Schramm's Meadery. Photo by Nicole Rupersburg.

With the opening of Schramm’s Meadery in downtown Ferndale scheduled for this fall, the city might well be the epicenter of a growing craft beverage industry that’s gaining a lot of “buzz.”

Schramm’s joins B. Nektar Meadery — the “beer geek’s” mead that uses cult movie imagery on its labels (think Star Wars and Evil Dead) and now exports to a dozen states.

While mead is gaining new fans, it’s certainly no upstart. Some consider it the ancestor of all fermented drinks. Mead, an alcoholic beverage made from honey, is often referred to as “honey wine.” Much like beer or wine, mead has dozens of styles and can be flavored in countless ways. Popular styles include cysers, made with apple juice; melomels, made with fruits; and pyments, made with wine grapes.

Mead more.

[NEWS BITES] Rock City Eatery opens on Monday

Rock City Eatery, the new restaurant from Rock City Pies' Nikita Santches, is opening for business on Monday, September 23, 11:30 a.m. until 11:00 p.m.

Rock City Eatery is a concept several years in the making for Santches. After making a name for himself as the "Pie Guy" of Rust Belt Market in Ferndale, then becoming a top four finalist in the 2012 Hatch Detroit small business competition, Santches is finally able to realize his dream of opening his own restaurant.

The Eatery is located at 11411 Joseph Campau just north of Caniff in the former location of Maria's Comida. Santches, with the help of family and friends, has completely renovated the interior. The finished result is a mix of vintage and antique pieces from Detroit Picker and Vogue Vintage, custom-made furniture by David Moroz Art Furniture made with reclaimed materials, original artwork featuring 1960s and '70s Detroit Rock City icons, and details such as exposed brick walls original to the 1918 building and an iron door made for the basement bomb shelter dating back to WWII.

The menu is a work of personal passion for Santches. As an immigrant Russian, he has long wanted to make the kinds of foods he remembers growing up with, which includes a lot of "offal." Part of what drew him to Hatmtramck to open his restaurant is the large immigrant Eastern European population that he feels a kinship with. His menu is a reflection of his passions as a chef (who admires other adventurous chefs like Anthony Bourdain) and his own nostalgia for the foods he ate growing up.

Everything on the menu is made in house from scratch, from the breads and sauces to the foie gras whipped butters and hand-cut potato chips. The lunch and dinner menus feature items like duck rilette sandwiches, charcoal-grilled beef tongue skewers, pork "fries" with togarashi, and bone marrow fritters, with plenty of vegetarian options like roasted brussels sprouts with Thai basil and smoked tomatoes, and grilled heirloom carrots with fast-pickled apples and goat cheese. What he doesn't make himself Santches gets from other local producers, like the chocolate truffles on the dessert menu from Pete's Chocolate Company. And for dessert, yes, there will be pie…lots of pie. Menu items will change based on the season and availability.

Rock City Eatery has a full liquor license and will serve a selection of Michigan-made beers, wines, and spirits from popular brands like Founders, Bell's, Black Star Farms, M Lawrence, New Holland, Valentine, Two James, and Grand Traverse Distilling. There is also a selection of craft cocktails and "lushies" – booze-blended slushies.

Rock City Eatery will be open Monday through Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.

For all media requests, contact Nikita Santches | nsatches@yahoo.com | 248-633-3072

[EID Feature] Crunch in! Two Detroiters open Chip 'n Wich inside Midland Mall

This post was originally published on May 6, 2013*

Barbecue chicken sandwich from Chip 'n Wich. All photos by Nicole Rupersburg.

Have you ever put potato chips on your sandwich before? Of course you have. Because it's awesome.

Chip 'n Wich is built on the idea that potato chips are even better on sandwiches than just relegated to the side of them. Partners Jonathan Neely and Craig Jones both love to put chips on their sandwiches – and are themselves huge proponents of the art of 'wiching (Joey Tribbiani would approve).

They began developing the concept for Chip 'n Wich about three years ago, working on branding and menus while looking for a space suited for their particular style of sandwiches. Now, this Tuesday, they are celebrating a soft opening of Chip 'n Wich inside the Midland Mall. Which, okay, Midland – it's smack-dab in the middle of Michigan, which is every bit exactly what it sounds like. But an opportunity presented itself that these Detroit boys couldn't pass up, and they couldn't be more thrilled about it. "It's a dream come true," Jonathan says with a huge smile, and I absolutely believe him.

Chip 'n Wich isn't just any old sandwich shop, and not just because they put chips on them. Jonathan and Craig are both professionally-trained chefs with years of industry experience. They are passionate about supporting the local foods movement and local farmers – of which there are plenty out there in the Michiganian Heartland, including a great farmers market open Wednesdays and Saturdays through the end of October right there in downtown Midland.

Each sandwich is paired with its own potato chip flavor (there are five sandwiches for this initial run, with eight planned once they open permanently). The chips are all fried fresh in their kitchen, then tossed in their house-made seasonings. Jonathan and Craig create all of the different potato chip flavors themselves, and plan on offering a whole variety to customers – you can get the chips they selected to pair with their sandwiches, are you can go rogue and mix-and-match your own flavors, which might include peanut butter…or bacon…or peanut butter AND bacon. You'll also find more "traditional" potato chip flavors, like their twist on sour cream and onion, and all of the flavors are made with fresh herbs from local farmers.

Almost everything on the sandwiches at Chip 'n Wich is made in-house, including their own aioli (oh yes, these are the kinds of sandwiches that have aioli – not mayo) and Craig's own signature BBQ sauce, Craig's Jones'en Barbecue. At a test-run held on Sunday, they served barbecue chicken sandwiches dressed in this sauce topped with caramelized onions, bacon, cilantro ranchero chipotle chips, and also bacon, on two thick pieces of Texas toast slathered in butter and grilled up nice and toasty. Along with this, they served Faygo Red Pop floats – the ubiquitous soda with a color for a flavor. It's a Detroit thing, y'all.

See, you can take the boys out of Detroit but you can never take Detroit out of the boys: in addition to offering several different sandwiches, they'll also be offering ice cream floats made with century-old iconic Detroit brands Faygo and Vernor's, and using Ray's Ice Cream, one of metro Detroit's favorite locally-made premium ice creams.

The boys in front of their soon-to-be new home inside the Midland Mall.

This Tuesday, you can either "crunch in" or "crunch out" – meaning you can either opt for the more adventurous chips inside the sandwich, or ease into the concept by getting the chips on the side. No judgment. "At the end of the day, it's just good, fun food," Jonathan says. "It's something you can be interacting with."

After sitting in for their test run and having the chance to talk to Jonathan and Craig about their concept and respective culinary backgrounds, I have to say: I'm all crunched in.

If you're out in Midland on Tuesday, be sure to check these guys out. If not, keep an eye out for them – once a permanent location is secured, it's only a matter of time before Chip 'n Wich becomes one of Michigan's favorite sandwiches and before we start seeing Chip 'n Wich brand potato chips and Craig's Jones'en Barbecue on store shelves McClure's-style.

*So yeah, this was written as part of my appearance on an episode of the Food Network's Food Court Wars which originally aired on Sunday, July 28 at 8:00 p.m. which was a secret. TEE-HEE-HEE, FOOLED YOU!!! Aaaaand that's why I was in Midland a couple of months ago. And, of course, Nikki's Boys won, as should be expected.

[Model D] The Michigan Urban Farming Initiative promotes sustainability and community on the North End

The Michigan Urban Farming Initiative (MUFI) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 2011. Their goal is to use agriculture as a platform for sustainability, education and community.

MUFI founders purchased 7432 Brush Street on Detroit's North End in late 2011. The building is a vacant three-story, six-unit apartment complex in a state of disrepair, surrounded by vacant land that they use for farming. "We figured we would take a structure that is visually unique and needs work and use it as a community center and, eventually, our headquarters," says Tyson Gersh, co-founder of MUFI.

Read more.

The Week We Ate (The EID Week in Review)

This works so well for this post.

Famous person ate something. [G+B]

So I guess my next Detroit Bus Company tour route is set. [Freep]

And in typical social media fashion, the Biggest Thing on the Internet was quickly replaced by the Next Biggest Thing on the Internet. Detroit certainly found plenty of ways to congratulate itself last week! The new Google Maps app commercial was shot in Detroit and features images of Comerica Park, Lj's Lounge, Lafayette Coney Island, The Westin Book Cadillac Detroit, and more. [YouTube]

Slows and Eastern Market Corporation and Supino Pizzeria and the Sugar House and Astro Coffee. Looks like it's time for me to update my Official Detroit Food Experience list and add Fodor's to all of these places! Also, Detroit is probably one of the (possibly even THE) only cities in the country where the rates for the top hotel in the city are actually *lower* on weekends. [Fodor's / EID]

In case you missed it:
~Slows fans who should find themselves at Ford Field this year will have plenty to celebrate, even if it's not the Lions. (OHHHHHHH.) Ford Field is adding two more Slows locations plus a Corridor Sausage Co. cart and a Russell Street Deli outpost this fall. [Model D]

~The new Meijer opens up in the Gateway Marketplace at 8 Mile and Woodward on July 25. This development is a transformational change to the oft-malinged 8 Mile corridor, which the 8 Mile Boulevard Association is trying to rebrand as "Uptown." [Model D]

~I'm considering this a companion piece to the preview in Crain's since I was slow on the draw (vacation!), but here is a sneak peek of the new Griffin Claw Brewing Co. opening this week WITH the full food menu, the opening day tap list, Brewmaster Dan's full list of achievements while brewing under Big Rock, distribution plans, and Dan's wacky idea to distill a domestic absinthe. BAM. [EID]

~In honor of July being National Hot Dog month, I revisited (and totally revamped) an old Hot Dog Hot List, first written in the days when the haute dog trend got off to a halty start. [EID]

~Jefferson House and Urban Cellars inside the Crowne Plaza Pontchartrain are now open! [EID]

Brilliant! "South Detroit" is a new bar/restaurant opening in downtown Windsor, geographically south of Detroit. Journey fans rejoice, that line in "Don't Stop Believing" is no longer a total misnomer. (Though it still doesn't mean what Steve Perry thinks it means.) [Windsorite]

And now it is final: Takashi returns to Michigan with Slurping Turtle in Ann Arbor. The lease has been signed. Tribute II it will not be, but it's something, and I'll take it. [AnnArbor.com]

So the new restaurant in the old Sangria space has a culinary dream team behind it. (Insider tip: the menu Chef Derik has planned for this restaurant is every bit as forward and ambitious as you'd expect from a Takashi protege, and for you winos the wine cellar is going to mimic something you'd expect in Vegas.) [Crain's]

Huerto Tequila Bar and Grill is opening in West Bloomfield this September. Design by Ron Rea, big brick fireplace in the dining room and a second one on the huge outdoor patio, SW/Mexican/American food, and 75 different tequilas. (When I lived there all there was was Joe's Crab Shack and a Big Boy. Sigh.) While the contemporary Mexican cuisine-and-tequila-bar concept sounds like a no-brainer recipe for success, the model hasn't has much luck around here - there was the recent Barrio bomb in Birmingham, and those of us who have lived here for more than 5 minutes aaaaaaaaaaall remember Agave. (Double sigh.) Will this one work in an area that historically has not seen a major trendy restaurant last longer than two years (aside from Stage Deli, which isn't exactly "trendy")? [Huerto Official]

My colleague Jon Zemke highlights Joseph Wesley Black Tea in this week's Model D, a hand-harvested "slow" tea company selling teas of a quality difficult to find in North America. Garth, do we have the beginnings of America's next artisan beverage trend right here in our hometown? Why yes Wayne, I do believe we do. Excellent! [Model D]

Tuesdays at Eastern Market Corporation started last week. Some would say (some includes me) that Tuesdays are even better than Saturdays, with fewer people and more of an emphasis on local vendors like Beau Bien Fine Foods, The Brinery, Love's Custard Pie, Spice Miser, Oliver Farms and more. [Crain's]

Ottavia Via in Corktown is nearing opening (rumor has it it's actually open now, in some sort of capacity). Owned by the same people as Mercury Burger Bar, soooooo dot dot dot. (Sidebar: I feel like people missed the point of the "dot dot dot" earlier...DOT DOT DOT.) [Freep]

Detroit Vegan Soul is hoping to be open by August, and have also announced that they are now hiring kitchen and service staff. [BLAC]

Long-time Detroit institution Mr. Mike's burned to the ground. It was one of those divey spots students would go for cheap drinks and Detroitphiles would go for kicks. No details yet on if the owners will try to rebuild or if the bar is gone for good. [Michigan Chronicle]

Ganbei is now open in downtown Rochester. Sounds kinda Chen Chow-y? [Rochester Patch]

The important tidbits: bar owner/restaurateur J. Lambrecht of Bookies Bar N' Grille and Fountain Bistro at Campus Martius Park is now getting into the real estate business, and Buddy's Pizza bends to trends, forsaking its identity as THE Detroit-style deep dish place to also include thin-crust pizzas. [Crain's]

Here's some nice coverage of Detroit SOUP on the Indiegogo blog. [Indiegogo]

Zoup! celebrated the opening of its 50th store last week; here's a nice little story about the guy behind this successful local chain. [Freep]

So basically Kroger is now becoming Meijer (with a sometimes-way-better-and-actually-pretty-impresive wine selection, depending on what city you're in). Would love to see one of these in the city...and since I'm making a wish list, one of those really sweet two-story Targets too. [Crain's]

Not sure if I posted this back in May, but I walked by the new Aventura space in Ann Arbor (THREE addresses, almost an entire city block) this weekend and this really looks like it's going to be awesome. Plus an outdoor deck! If it's anything like the rooftop patio at Jolly Pumpkin Cafe and Brewery, count me in. [AnnArbor.com]

Events

Pig + Whiskey is this weekend in Ferndale. Detroit BBQ Co., Rock City Eatery and others will be there, plus the boys of Bailout Productions will be doing kegged cocktails all weekend and on Sunday, a very hungover crew from the Oakland (in post-Tales of the Cocktail bliss) will be holding it down in the cocktail corner. Do. Not. Miss. [P+W FB]

Tacos: Turntables: Tequila (Tuesdays) are now a thing at Great Lakes Coffee in Midtown through the summer, featuring the food-slinging stylings of Detroit's most famous food truck, El Guapo. [GLC FB]

Check out the Always Brewing Detroit grand opening party this Friday with food from the Batata Shop, Sweet Potato Sensations, and Pete's Chocolate Co. [ABD FB]

Agriculture

Northern Michigan winemakers and growers are still looking to establish the region's signature grape; while cold-weather white European vinifera varietals are certainly proving their worth (mostly in Rieslings, but the Pinot Blancs and Gewurtztraminers are no slouches either), the delicate reds, when the growing conditions cooperate, can be mind-blowing (specifically Gamay Noir and Pinot Noir; the Merlots also do well but that thing's like a weed and will grow anywhere). I'd also like to see more wineries experiment with the Bianca grape. [Michigan Radio / EID] 

And here's a cool interactive map of wineries across the nation that shows both current wineries and the growth of wineries over the past several decades. [NYT]

This is a bittersweet story about a 90-year-old farmer in South Lyon. With the new focus on farm-to-table and young people in the food industry taking a sincere interest in local agriculture, it will be interesting to see how the farming industry grows and develops over the next few generations. [Freep]

Like with chickens! [Freep]

Except for that nevermind, hipsters can't handle it. [NBC News]

Well, this year's crops weren't killed by an early thaw and late frost and they're getting plenty of water, but they're also coming in a bit later. [WDET]

Beerie

The new Old German opens this week in the basement of Grizzly Peak Brewing Company. Got a little preview this weekend 'cuz I know a guy, and it looks rad. Gotta love Jon and Greg and their love of basement bars! (See also: Habana under Lena, Craft under Bastone Brewery.) Also, das Menü ist sehr Deutsch--suuuuuuuuuper German. Potato salad and bacon and beer brats, anyone? Also also: kellerbier. Also also also: hasenpfeffer. Does anyone even know what hasenpfeffer is aside from a line in the Laverne and Shirley theme song? Oh, THEY'RE GONNA DO IT. [AnnArbor.com]

The Coors Light Sky Deck is opening on the roof of the Detroit Opera House. Looks pretty cool, views will be fantastic, love the idea of a downtown rooftop beer garden and only $5 to watch Detroit Tigers games from above, also love how (relatively) affordable it is to rent for private parties (made possible by the sponsorship, no doubt), but really hate the sponsorship. Will they only serve MillerCoors products? Or will they be able to sneak in some craft beers? This is a make or break kind of situation for me. [Freep]

This is the best piece of LADY beer writing ever. Ever ever. [XO Jane]

CraftBeer.com weighs in on 12 brewpubs putting the Midwest on the map - not just for their beer, but also for their gastropub fare. Jolly Pumpkin - Old Mission Peninsula (Traverse City) (PAUL!!!) and Arcadia Ales both made the cut. Not mentioned: Jolly Pumpkin OMP also has one of the best patios in the country. Yes, country; I'm going for it. [CraftBeer.com]

Oh, well, speaking of Traverse City... [Freep]

Remember when I told you awhile back that craft ciders were going to/are already becoming a thing? Here is a list of the best canned craft ciders in America from Serious Eats: Drinks, featuring ciders from Vander Mill and Uncle John's Cider Mill. [SE:D]

9 out of 10 cicerones seem to agree that craft beer trends are going to veer more towards low-alcohol session beers, lighter styles in general, and perfecting more "traditional" styles rather than chasing the latest XTREME trend. (The other one thinks XTREME beers will continue to dominate.) So here's hoping the 90% majority is right. [Serious Eats: Drinks]

Random

~Cheese and their literary counterparts - a bit of brilliance from the folks at The Airship. [The Airship]

~SPIN talks about bacon blinds in the new video from Detroit's Jamaican Queens. [Spin]

~Yet another articulate argument in favor of abolishing tipping (though the solution proposed at the end wouldn't quite get us there). [Slate]

~The mystery of Ruth Bourdain has been solved. [NYT]

[Model D] Detroit's first Downtown Farmers Market is open every Thursday

The Compuware urban garden Lafayette Greens is now home to the first-ever farmers market in downtown Detroit. Located on the site of the former Lafayette Building, which was demolished in 2010, the garden is a result of Peter Karmanos, Jr. – Compuware's co-founder and Executive Chairman and also a Master Gardener – working with the city of Detroit to transform the area into a greenspace.

Read more.

The Week We Ate (The EID Week in Review)

McClure's has a new sweet and spicy pickle out, and it is only available at Whole Foods Midtown for now. This is a reason to brave the crowds, yes? (I've had it. It's awesome.) [McClure's]

A new microbrewery is coming to downtown Dearborn! This is how the west is won. [Dearborn Patch]

It's officially-official: DROUGHT will have a permanent home in Detroit at the new Shinola flagship store in Midtown, opening this summer. [Drought FB]

Turns the London Chop House is also totally metal, and Spin agrees with me on Guns + Butter. [Detroit News / Spin]

In case you missed it:
~The Cultural Living Room is now open to the public inside the DIA's Kresge Court. The design concept mixes modern and traditional, but why not just check out the pictures. [Model D / EID]
~June on Jefferson popped up during Jazzin' on Jefferson this weekend. Several stores are inhabiting newly-renovated storefronts in the Jefferson Chalmers commercial district, including Myra's Sweet Tooth and Goodwells Natural Foods. Also Coffee and (___), which was not originally reported because it was not originally listed on the website or mentioned in my interview. I'll make up for it, promise. [Model D]
~Just a Bit Eclectic is now open on Detroit's northwest side, selling vintage goods and antiques as well as teas from Detroit's INTU Specialty Tea and soups from Beautiful Soup. [Model D]
~HEY! Join me on June 29 for the Official Detroit Food Experience food tour with The Detroit Bus Company! We'll have house-made cheese and beer at Traffic Jam + Snug, have a picnic catered by Los Unicos taco truck and Mexicantown Bakery in Clark Park, and see how sausage gets made at Corridor Sausage Co.! [Detroit Bus Co]

Speaking of taco trucks, my first actual paid assignment as a freelance writer was a little over four years ago with Model D for a story about taco trucks in SW Detroit. So what I'm saying is, I did it before it was cool. Anyway here's this retro-chic story on SW taco trucks with a list of different vendors at the end and a sort of "white people guide to Mexican things." [Model D / Detroit News]

Apparently this was retro chic week! Hygrade Deli is "in" again, and now an unnamed national food network (though not necessarily THE Food Network) will be paying them a visit. [MLive]

And these places aren't trendy and won't be getting any fashionable food buzz anytime soon, but are worth checking out because they serve good food, the end. [Detroit News]

Attention all would-be mobile entrepreneurs: the MEDC has announced a new mobile start-up grant program of up to $10,000 for new or existing mobile businesses in order to boost Michigan's mobile food vending industry. There is also an additional grant of $10-50k for farmers markets at least four years old. [WILX]

The new Downtown Farmer's Market Detroit is held Thursdays at Lafayette Greens. (Hours will likely be changing as they figure out what times work best for customers.) [DFMD FB]

The Eastern Market Corporation Shed 5/Community Kitchen work was already happening so when the MEDC sent out this release earlier today I was a little confused, but maybe it's this particular $1mil grant that's new? And that's, like, a lot of money. So. YAAAAAAAAY! [Detroit News]

Michigan strawberries are in season! Here is a guide (with map) to U-Pick farms in metro Detroit. [Freep]

Sure, you know all the big name places to get ice cream around here ... but what about some of Detroit's lesser-known ice cream spots? Model D and Belle Isle to 8 Mile: An Insider's Guide to Detroit dig deep on this one. [Model D]

File under: best headline in the history of Crain's Detroit Business. "Union Joints Rolling at DTE Energy Music Theatre." [Crain's]

Commune is now Craft. It's still the basement of Bastone, now with more beer. [Commune FB]

Burgers burgers burgers (that pay workers living wages). [AnnArbor.com / Eyes on Windsor / Detroit News]

New steakhouse in St. Clair Shores, TBones Steak and Seafood, is overseen by former sous chef of SaltWater. Might be worth checking out? [Freep]

If Flavor Flav's Chicken + Ribs closes due to carbon monoxide leaks and no one notices because no one goes there, did it really happen at all? [TMZ]

Selma Cafe lives again in a new location! While no longer held in a private home, the brunch pop-up will happen in the common house of Sunward Cohousing on June 22. Brunch will be held on Saturday instead of Friday and hours will run later. Pretty much everything else remains the same. [AnnArbor.com]

Beerie
~Turns out I drink a lot because I'm a freakin' genius, THAT'S why. [MSN]

Poutine Queen
~I'm going to be spending some time in Canada this summer. In the interest of research, yes I will eat this. Even though it feels wrong, despite being a combination of two of my favorite things. [First We Fest]
~And here's 13 more. [The Grid]