The Week We Ate (The EID Week in Review)

This just screams "coincidence."

Mae's in Pleasant Ridge has received approval for their long-in-the-works liquor license. There are no plans to extend their hours into dinner service, but you can bet your sweet bleary-eyed hungover ass that there will be mimosas and Bloody Marys (also a small selection of craft cocktails, wine, and Michigan beer). [Mae's FB / EID FB]

Falling Down Beer Company is officially a brewery in metro Detroit's own little beer city, Warren. [FDBC FB]

And Schramm's Mead is officially a meadery in metro Detroit's newly-annointed City of Mead, Ferndale. Or maybe it should be the City of Milk and Honey? Not sure where the milk part comes in, but it would be a nice nod to Ministry (censored version). [Schramm's FB]

In the never-ending news fodder provided by Flavor Flav's Chicken and Ribs, Flavor is now considering making the Sterling Heights restaurant a shooting location for a black Happy Days. So there's that. [Macomb Daily]

I've been yapping about metro Detroit's craft cocktail scene for a couple of years now (*cough*FIRST*cough*), but this might be the biggest happening on a national scale for Detroit's craft cocktail scene yet: Travis Fourmont of Michael Symon's Roast won Woodford Reserve's Master of the Manhattan in Manhattan, beating out mixologists from the booziest cities in the country ... INCLUDING MANHATTAN. [Woodford Reserve]

The Detroit Animal is observed by the Chicago Tribune. SLOWS BAR BQ, Green Dot Stables, ASTRO COFFEE, The Sugar House, Mercury Burger Bar, Eastern Market Corporation and etc. Thankfully, Detroiters seem to have finally reached a blissful shade of jade over these phoned-in Corktown-centric round-ups. [Chicago Tribune]

We don't really have the brightest criminals around here. (I can attest to this personally.) [HuffPo]

Detroit's most famous restaurant SLOWS BAR BQ is undergoing a much-needed expansion. The new space will be mostly separate from the main dining room, enabling them to accommodate large private parties and also allowing increased bar space for those waiting for a table. 36 added tap handles will mostly duplicate those in the main space, and Chef/Partner Brian Perrone will have a larger updated kitchen that will enable him to run more specials and beer dinners. And here's photos! (And the worst commenters in the world.) [Model D / Curbed Detroit]

Building a bagel culture takes time. So does completely renovating a historic and long-vacant building. But ground has broken on their new production facility and construction will move forward from there, so Detroit Institute of Bagels will soon be a reality in Corktown! And here's one with more puns. [Model D / Detroit News]

American Coney Island and Lafayette Coney Island appeared together on Food Paradise on the Travel Channel. [Detroit News]

St. Cece's Pub is now serving Sunday brunch. [SCP FB]

The Motown Winter Blast is returning again this year! And oh, hey, Dan Gilbert practically owns this now too. [Freep]

For 2013, the Detroit Bus Company is changing up their services a bit. No more weekend bar service, but new events and plans to work in more of a public transit capacity. And have you checked out their drunk tours yet? (Well. They're not ALL drunk tours. Like the church one, that definitely isn't. Though you know something, some of those church types can DRINK. Like monks? You've had Belgian beer? Super-high ABV and all made by monks. I rest my case. Jesuits too. They like the wine. I know this from my time at UDM.) [DBC Official]

Thrillist takes a first look at the recently-opened Maccabees at Midtown, and it looks pretty delicious indeed. It also looks a whole hell of a lot like the HistoricDetroit.org website. [Thrillist / EID FB]

Here's more on Winezilla - owner Ed Bosse isn't new to the wine retail game (or playing it in Ferndale for that matter), and offers affordable (and dare I say fun?) labels that also include a special bottling from L. Mawby Winery called "Ferndale Fizz." (Which if it's anything like the "Detroit" label will suck, unless you like being muscatoed in the face.) There's also a section of Michigan-made snacks, and a totally Ferndalian mural! [Ferndale 115]

And more word on new restaurants coming to Ferndale in 2013: Ferndale Public House replacing Josephine's, Zeke's R+R BBQ replacing AJ's Music Cafe, Tokyo Sushi + Thai replacing Pete's Place. [Ferndale 115]

Brew Jus, which was located in the Rust Belt Market, is shutting down, though partner Nick Schultz plans on moving forward with his own company in the future with a similar mission. Since opening, Nick's partner David Ballew has been plagued with health issues which often demanded long absences from the business, which undoubtedly played a role (among other factors) in this decision. [The Sauced Chef FB]

You know, between Urban Putt-Putt in Corktown, Drive Table Tennis Social Club, and now the new video game lounge and mobile gaming service for parties Activ8 in Ferndale, what we really need around here is MORE LASER TAG. #legendary [Ferndale Patch]

Coffee and (____) ended their pop-up run in West Village this week, but not without a bang. [C+___ FB]

The head of one of Greektown's major business families, Ted Gatzaros, passed away this week. He and his former partner, other Greektown family head Jim Papas, together created Greektown Casino. The Gatzaros family also own the Atheneum Suite Hotel, Fishbones Rhythm Kitchen Cafe, and others. His son Nico is behind The London Chop House revival.  [Crain's]

The Townsend Hotel/Rugby Grille has a new Executive Chef who is, apparently, super "into" the whole local thing. Here's hoping this means the AAA Four-Diamond-rated restaurant won't rely so much on Sysco. [Ferndale Patch]

Kilwin's in Birmingham has closed, and there's already new businesses interested in the space (as well as the former Zumba Grille space). Two years from now when I get my intense once-a-decade craving to eat a whole box of chocolate-covered pretzels, this is going to make me very sad. [B-ham Patch]

Midwest Living also digs The Root Restaurant + Bar! [Midwest Living]

Ann Arbor and beyond

Rub Pub BBQ has officially opened its third location in Ann Arbor in a spot that some say is "cursed." (Not like in a gypsy-curse-that-restored-Angel's-soul-only-to-take-it-away-again-the-moment-he-experiences-pure-happiness kind of way, but in like a no-business-can-seem-to-stay-open kind of way.) [AnnArbor.com]

New "new American" joint in A2, Vellum Restaurant, now open. [AnnArbor.com]

the (espresso) bar will reopen February 1. With shiny disco balls. [teb FB]

Ann Arbor Restaurant Week runs January 20-25 with a record 52 restaurants participating. [Freep]

So how about this: BROOKLYN is the new Brooklyn! Brooklyn Michigan, that is. Shady's Tap Room in Brooklyn will feature Michigan microbrews with signature pizzas and sandwiches. [MLive]

Beerie
~Chicagoist named Jolly Pumpkin's Noel de Calabaza their "Beer of the Week." Um, how about "Beer of Forever (except when Sobrehumano is available)"? [Chicagoist]
~Another Goose Islander leaving to start his own (as yet unnamed) brewery. [BeerPulse]
~Kinda want to go to Palm Springs anyway. Now kinda want to stay at Ace Hotel and Swim Club (it's pretty affordable too, especially in comparison to the others on this bougie beer geek hotel list). [Tablet Mag]
~Stone Brewing Company is opening a $24 million hotel across the street from Stone Brewing World Bistro + Gardens; The Brooklyn Brewery is opening a pub in downtown Stockholm. Would have been cool if they would have added Arbor Brewing Company's recent expansion into India. Dear First We Feast, can I write for you and cover non-New York things? [FWF]
~"I'm not a drunk; I just have the sniffles." The cure for the common cold? BEER! [The Drinks Business]
~Here's a little something for fans of beer, coffee, and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. [FWF]

Eat It GR
~After five years and $13.5 million in sales, HopCat has proven itself. [MLive]
~One of the happiest places on earth (or at least the U.S.) is Michigan's own little Disneyland: Grand Rapids. [Forbes]
~Kalamazoo Beer Week, which coincides with the Michigan Brewer's Guild annual winter summit, is now in its third year and is bigger than ever with over 100 coordinating events. [MLive]
~The Cheese Lady's franchise expansion into GR also includes plenty of Michigan beer and wine in addition to cheeses from around the world. So basically all of life's essentials. (Except for toilet paper.) [Rapid Growth]
~Brewery Vivant got a nice spread in Beer Advocate. [BA Mag / BV FB]
~New Holland's annual Blue Sunday release party (at which they release -- oh you're good -- Blue Sunday) is this Sunday, with library tastings of past vintages of this and other special beers. [NH FB]

Diamonds: Not Just for Girls Anymore

Originally published in D-Tales here.

Did you know we have no fewer than seven AAA-rated four-diamond restaurants in the area?

Of course you didn't. Well, we do. I've noted previously that Iridescence is Detroit's only four-diamond restaurant, but there are six more in the immediate metro area which also deserve some attention.

Every year the American Automotive Association grants the prestigious Four-Diamond Award to America's leading restaurants, an honor only about 3% of AAA's 60,000 rated restaurants receive.

So what other restaurants here make the cut?

The Grill. Because a rose by any other name would surely smell as sweet. The simply-named Grill at the Ritz Carlton in Dearborn needs no further finesse of naming convention to be one of the top restaurants in the country. I mean...it's the Ritz Carlton, fer chrissakes. I've visited the Grill a couple of times--once for a dinner that I don't quite remember but I do know was (a) amazing and (b) expensive, and another time for the most decadent Sunday brunch I've seen in Michigan. It doesn't need a lot of bells and whistles. It's the Grill. In the Ritz Carlton. That's all you need to know.

Il Posto Ristorante. Authentic right down to the waiters' B.O. Il Posto in Southfield is hands-down the most authentic, old-world Italian restaurant, cut from the classic mold of customer service as the highest priority and taking great pride in the art of dining. Much like being in a family-owned world-renowned restaurant in Tuscany (Osteria di Rendola in the hills of Chianti is my closest comparison), the greatest emphasis is placed on quality of ingredients, creativity and expert preparation of dishes, presentation, and service. One table will typically see nine or so servers bustling about, refolding your napkin, wiping crumbs off your table, filling your water, and generally just making sure you are absolutely satisfied with every element of your dining experience. Oh, and did I mention the food is equally as amazing? Sorry to let my snobbery show through here, but if you've never been to Italy, you've never experienced anything quite like this. If you even try to make comparisions to the Bravo! Cucina Italiana or Johnny Carino's, I will punch you in the face.

Iridescence. Just go already, would you? From ambiance to presentation to the artful adventureousness of the menu, Iridescence beats all. I fell in love with it back when the restaurant was located in the bowels of the casino, past all the janky junk food joints and casino cafeterias. Now that they're located on the top of the Motor City Casino Hotel tower with a breathtaking view of the city and with some of the most impressive and daring interiors you're likely to see (the architectural lighting is better than most nightclubs), Iridescence makes other dining experiences pale in comparison. Literally and figuratively.

The Lark (West Bloomfield). You know...not as impressive as you think it would be. Yes, it nails the whole French-countryside standard of service and food preparations, and yes, their Rack of Lamb Genghis Khan is infamous and is served with its own number charting how many have been served since they started the numbering (over 70,000), and yes, their wine list is indeed The Wine Bible, and yesssss, the service is expertly attentive, the service carts are cute, and the extremely limited seating guarantees much personal attention and an always-full house, but...the food? I mean, for all the buzz? Meh.

Ristorante Cafe Cortina. All that time I lived in West Bloomfield, regularly driving through Farmington Hills, and I barely took notice of this place, much less thought to myself, "I should go there sometime." Apparently they're known for their fresh pastas, so much so that they were highlighted on the Food Network in 2006 as one of the best pasta places in the States. I want to punch myself in the face for having missed it all this time.

Rugby Grille. Another understated name for another top-tier restaurant located inside a world-class hotel recognized for its excellence in service and high standards of luxury and European excellence--the Townsend Hotel in Birmingham. I sadly admit that this is another restaurant I've not been to...it's at times like this I miss my fuckass ex who, despite being a fuckass, knew how to dine well and always took me out to such places. Now with my limited personal means (I got my punch in the face from the struggling economy last year and have been barely treading water since) and lack of boyfriend my exposure to such things has been severely limited, save for the generosity of my gay friends who will occasionally take me out to such nice places...but then find boyfriends and go with them instead. *Sigh* Me wanna go here...it's so pretty and old-world-y and snobby and fabulous...probably not as pretty and old-world-y and snobby and fabulous as the Russian Tea Room, which is the pinnacle of pretty old-world-y snobby fabulousness, but the best we're going to get here in Michigan.

Tribute Restaurant. I know I've spoke of it in passing before. But since I have not actually been there since I launched this blog, there have been no dedicated gushy foodie posts for Tribute Restaurant in Farmington Hills. But this...this is my favorite dining establishment in the world. It's now changed executive chef hands a third time since they opened and I haven't been there since, but I doubt the essence of its personalized service, chic atmosphere, and experimental avant-garde menu items (not to mention a quite welcoming, knowledgable, and friendly staff--espeically if you stick around after-hours and drink with them) have changed much. It used to be a yearly tradition--every year my birthday would mean a decadent dinner at Tribute, which would always end with the Egg: most orgasmic explosion of flavors you'll ever experience. Words cannot begin to describe it. It is the dessert of the gods. Chocolate creme brulée, salted caramel...I...I just can't describe it. It's incredible. A typical meal there will see me gorging on foie gras, Kobe beef, a generous plateau de fromage full of imported creamy French and tangy Italian cheeses, some kind of wild game meat, and a chocolate souffle. Ah, I miss this place. I miss Kevin and Antoinne. Damnit, now I'm depressed. I'll punch you all in the face. Now open for lunch.

Well. Now that I'm awash in memories of a very, very different time in my life, I'll bid you all adieu and happy dining while I go find a corner to wallow in my many financial and romantic failures, thanks.

In the face.