[EID Events] UPDATED October 3-November 2, 2013

The Sugar House. Photo by Nicole Rupersburg.

ONGOING

Plymouth Restaurant Week, through October 5
Has enough of restaurant weeks yet? Well, here's another one! This one's in Plymouth and features three-tier pricing.

Fall Flavor Weekends at the Henry Ford, through October 6
Celebrate harvest season at the Henry Ford during their Fall Flavor Weekends featuring a variety of fall foods and related programming.

Bastone Brewery Oktoberfest, through October 13
Bastone is now serving their annual Oktoberfest menu with their popular Rocktoberfest lager and special edition beer glasses.

TONIGHT

Fall Show Opening Reception at Rodin, Midtown October 3
The second best thing about art openings (aside from the ART, duh) is the booze. And Rodin has plenty of that. Check out the opening party from 6-8 p.m.

THIS WEEKEND

Free Lunch Friday (FLF), Detroit Labs, downtown October 4
Register now for a networky rah rah Detroit lunch thing at Detroit Labs next Friday. (Actually the free spots are all taken but you can still snag a non-free spot with a donation.)

8 Degrees Plato Two-Year Anniversary, Ferndale October 4
Celebrate two years of Tim and Brid and craft beer tonight from 4-8 p.m. with a free tasting featuring several Short's beers and some of their personal favorites, with Chicago-style hot dogs from Hippo's to go with the beer! Totes free. 

Manya's Birthday at Abick's Bar, Southwest Detroit October 4
Manya, the owner of Abick's Bar in Southwest Detroit, turns 90 years old today. Celebrate with her anytime this weekend at one of Detroit's oldest and friendliest bars. Read more about it here. 

The Greening Gala, Roast, downtown October 4
Yes, tickets are $500 each. Let's just get that part out of the way right now. This is a gala fundraising event for the Greening of Detroit and you either have the money or you don't. If you do, celebrity chef Michael Symon himself will be cooking using ingredients he'll source that morning from the Greening of Detroit's 2.5-acre farm in Eastern Market and locally-raised livestock in a five-course menu at his flagship Detroit restaurant Roast. 

Kuhnhenn Oktoberfest, Kuhnhenn Brewing Company, Warren October 5-6
There will be live music and German food in their tented biergarten and Kuhnhenn Festbier on tap. Time to break out the lederhosen! 

Hamtramck Neighborhood Arts Festival, Hamtramck October 5
Held over 26 locations with 50 artists, musicians, theatre, dance, readings and more. Grab a guide at Public Pool.

The DIA's Inside|Out Community Dinner, Gleaners Community Food Bank, the Villages October 5
This event, presented by the DIA in conjunction with Detroit Harmonie and Slows BAR BQ to benefit Gleaners, is on a wait list but it's worth a shot. This community dinner is the wrap-up event for the DIA's 2013 Inside|Out program; Gleaners was one of 13 locations in the Villages to host one of the images. 

Sundaylicious at MotorCity Wine, Corktown October 6
The weekly Sunday themed and pop-up dinner series at MotorCity Wine continues this week with Rubbed, a Euro-style deli opening soon in Corktown. 

The Great Lakes Regional Chili Cookoff, downtown Plymouth October 6
This 18th annual event features a huge chili cookoff with awards in several categories, a motorcycle show, music, kids' activities, and more.

NEXT WEEK

Big Dumb Tiki Party, the Sugar House, Corktown October 7
Celebrate the two-year anniversary of the Sugar House at their "Big Dumb Tiki Party" on Monday, October 7 starting at 5 p.m. with music from the Mexican Knives and the Hentchmen, exotic tiki coolers, cheap punch, and floral shirts. No cover. 

Ferndale Restaurant Week, October 7-13
More here.

Dine Drink Detroit, October 10-16
More here.

(revolver) October 11
The new communal-style chef's tasting dinner is now taking reservations for October 11 but hurry, only 35 seats are available. Read more about them here and make your reservations.

AND BEYOND

Jolly Pumpkin and North Peak Beer Dinner, Forest Grill, Birmingham October 14
Five courses featuring the beers of Jolly Pumpkin and North Peak as well as some Civilized Spirits. Tickets are $70pp.

The Great Pumpkin Feast at the Root, White Lake October 16
Every course features pumpkin as a highlighted ingredient with beer pairings from, naturally, Jolly Pumpkin Brewery. Seats still available.

Detroit Beer Week, October 17-27
New Official Beer Destinations now and events are being announced daily; follow the Facebook page for updates.
~Rock City Eatery Food + Beer Specials featuring Dark Horse, October 17-27
~Sammie, Soup + Beer Combo Special at Mudgie's all through DBW, October 17-27 
~Cans for Cans at Green Dot Stables, October 24 
~Beer Fest Hangover Brunch at Woodbridge Pub, October 27

Windsor Craft Beer Festival, Windsor October 18-19
Right on the other side of the Detroit River lies the exotic land of Windsor-Essex, and lo and behold they brew beer there. Can't wait for Fall Beer Fest in Eastern Market? Get prepped the weekend before with this celebration of craft beer heritage in Windsor-Essex in historic Olde Walkerville.

WindsorEats Bikes + Beers Cycling Tour (Beer Fest Edition), Windsor October 19
Visit local beerie establishments by bike then end your tour at Windsor's inaugural craft beer festival.

Theatre Bizarre: The Procession, the Masonic Temple, Detroit October 18-19
New this year is a Preview Gala on Friday night. Limited tickets are available for this intimate event where masks are mandatory and masqueraders are led through a strolling dinner and scheduled performances. On Saturday, join the Procession.

Halloween Harry Potter Hogwarts Feast at the Old Town Hall, Farmington October 19
Off the Beaten Path Books presents this Harry Potter-themed Halloween feast in Farmington. Dress in your wizardly best and allow the sorting hat to decide if you are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw or (shudder) Slytherin. (There are only 25 seats per table so not everyone can be Gryffindor.) There will be house tables and house cups, butter beer, and readings from the Harry Potter books. Artisan Knitworks in downtown Farmington will also have knit kits available to make your own house scarves and earn your house extra points (okay, so houses will be sorted in advance). Tickets are $25.

Kung Food Pop-Up Dinner After the Shanghai Ballet, Music Hall, downtown Detroit October 20
Following the performance of The Butterfly Lovers (China's own Romeo and Juliet) by the Shanghai Ballet at the Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts, enjoy a dinner with local Asian food pop-up Kung Food. Combo tickets are $50.

Michigan Brewers Guild Fall Beer Festival, Eastern Market October 25-26
As if this needs any kind of explanation.

Wrestlemania Halloween at Green Dot Stables, Corktown October 31
Break out your '80s spandex for a Wrestlemania Halloween at everyone's favorite slider joint, Green Dot Stables. There will be food and drink specials and theme music. 

Dia de los Muertos at Imperial, Ferndale November 1-2
Remember when they did this last year and it was amazing? Well, they're doing it again. Details TBA. For now, set those dates aside. 

The Week We Ate (The EID Week in Review)

All roads lead to Fight Club.

Mark Wahlberg thinks Detroit is swell and likes that one BBQ place. [Freep]

You know, the one Adam Richman called one of the best restaurants IN ALL OF AMERICA. [Kitchen Daily]

So obviously it was time for me to update this. [EID]

Wait, WHAT, Supino again? Damnit. Time for another update. (I should probably add Buddy's on there too.) [Thrillist]

I'm still waiting on my phone call to become Tyler Florence's sidekick. I almost wrote "Tyler Durden" there; how cool would THAT be? [Castles and Cooks]

ICYMI:

~La Feria's la facade is taking shape, as is the interior. [Model D]

~The Somerset CityLoft and The Detroit Shoppe pop-ups are open again on Woodward in downtown Detroit through August 24. Check them out on Thursdays during lunch for coney dogs, Better Made Snack Foods chips, and Faygo Beverages Inc. soda for $5 - every dollar benefits Summer in the City Detroit and Boll Family YMCA. [Model D]
~Pretty much slayed Mead Day coverage here. The way one would slay a dragon. Because, mead.  Also: news B. Nektar Brewery, the new Kuhnhenn production facility, and the Dragonmead expansion. BAM. [EID]

Guns + Butter is back for August, probably with less Bourdain but at least with more dates. None of which will I be in town for. C'est la vie. [G+B]

Rock City Eatery is getting ever-so-close to opening, and I will tell you this: the menu is going to blow your mind. I say that as someone who was already sold on it and has been actively pushing it to other people, as well as someone whose mind is not easily blown. For reals. [EID FB/eatsdrinksandleaves Instagram]

An update on all those West Village developments that got so much buzz when they were announced awhile back: none of them are open yet but all of them still plan on opening. The end. [Mode Shift]

After a flood from the torrential monsoon-like rains Detroit experienced for most of July forced them to shut down for a couple of weeks and do a bit of remodeling, The Bottom Line Coffee House has re-opened and have revamped their baked goods selection to provide all handmade, locally-sourced treats, plus an all-new breakfast menu with bagels, breakfast sandwiches and freshly made fruit and yogurt parfaits. [Bottom Line]

One of the best Thai places in metro Detroit (it's still glorified mall food but calling it "one of the best" in the area is simply relative to what else is out there) has opened a fast and casual concept for Midtown workers inside the Auburn Building. Go! Sy Thai is now open offering quick carry-out and dine-in service. This is their fourth location; they recently opened another Sy Thai in Troy and also operate Sy Thai Shores in St. Clair Shores. [Go! Sy Thai]

Thrillist checked out the new Jefferson House at the Crowne Plaza Detroit Downtown-Convention Center and found the food, the drinks, and the ambitious young chef impressive. ‪#‎nikkisboys‬ [Thrillist]

The Dakota Inn Rathskeller is now 80 years young. [Pure Detroit]

Just to taunt us, here are construction photos of Detroit Institute of Bagels. [DRNH FB]

It's Farouk! He's as much an icon as The Rattlesnake where he works. I'm not totally convinced he always knows what's going on around him, but he's definitely always a character. [Hour Detroit]

Chazzano Coffee Roasters is looking for a bigger home in Ferndale (they definitely need one). [Crain's]

Block off August 13 so you can drive to the Disney Land of suburbia (Novi) and stuff your face at the new Cheesecake Factory. [Novi Patch]

The Stand is shaping up in Birmingham, and so far it looks like they gutted all the atrocious neon leftover from Zazio's. So that's promising. [Crain's]

This is such a great little spot in Keego Harbor. Which you would never even know about unless you had reason to be in Keego Harbor. Which you wouldn't have unless you were driving between West Bloomfield and Waterford, or actually live in Keego Harbor. Even so, Jeremy Restaurant and Bar is celebrating 10 years with a new menu with lower prices and more veggie options and whatever the hell us was in that press release. [Freep]

Meet the artisan ice creams of A2/Ypsi: Sweet Dirt, Hello! Ice Cream and Gelato, and Go Ice Cream. [AnnArbor.com]

For the most part my commenters are not the knuckle-dragging mouth-breathers you find on most other sites. Yet sometimes, still sometimes, I get an outstanding example of Obfuscating Troll Logic. I made the egregious error of informing people that the new "Detroit Sandwich Shop" is in Farmington Hills and not Detroit (which the owner himself addressed in the linked story), and this is what happened. [Metromode / EID FB]

Beerie
~Serious Eats: Drinks played the "Ask a Cicerone" game once again, this time to inquire - what is the perfect summer beer? To which one responded, Berliner Weisse. You know where you can get a killer Berliner Weisse? (And to my knowledge, the only one being made locally.) Griffin Claw Brewing Company. Go there, you must. Also a dandy shout-out to Jolly Pumpkin Brewery! [Serious Eats: Drinks]

~Yes, I heart Griffin Claw. [Thrillist]

~Tickets to the Michigan Brewers Guild Fall Beer Festival in Eastern Market Corporation are on sale RIGHT NOW! [MBG Official]

~The Michigan Brewers Guild Fall Beer Festival isn't the only beer fest happening in these parts this October. WindsorEats is hosting the first-ever Windsor Craft Beer Festival across from the recently-opened Walkerville Brewery Oct. 18-19, bringing in food and craft beers from all over Ontario. Tickets are only $25 per day; this could be a nice little primer for Beer Fest and a good way to find out what our neighbors to the south have brewing. [Windsor Eats]

~Ashley's Westland has opened their outdoor beer garden. But in Westland. So. Beer. [Detroit News]

~'tis true: the pumpkin beers have officially hit the distribution networks (Southern Tier Brewing Company has also released Pumking already so look for that one soon too, in addition to what's listed here.) It's kind of like women's retail when you can buy sweaters in the dead of summer but you can't find shorts or swimsuits. [MLive]

~Except for Rogue Ales. And they use REAL pumpkin. Grown on their own farm. And won't release their pumpkin ale until October, after they can harvest their estate-grown pumpkins and use them in their beer. Rogue, I forgive you for your Voodoo bacon maple doughnut abomination, just don't ever do it again. [Beer Pulse]

~All of this is true, including the part about me at the end. ‪#‎misbf13‬ [Mitten Brew]

~Hey, check it out, the number of craft breweries in the country has finally topped what it was back in ***1890***! o_0 [Beer Pulse]

[Metromode] The Stuff You Must Do in Metro Detroit This Summer

Lake Erie North Shore wine region in Windsor Essex. Photo by Nicole Rupersburg.

Summer in metro Detroit is a beautiful and fleeting thing. We metro Detroiters spend as much time as possible enjoying the great outdoors during these hot summer months. Take advantage of our fantastic waterways with a boat tour, jet ski, canoe or kayak. Hike, bike, or camp in a state park. Barbecue with the family at one of the Metroparks. Attend an outdoor concert. Enjoy the state's agricultural bounties and visit a U-Pick fruit farm. Spend a Sunday afternoon leisurely brunching on a patio. Yadda yadda. There's nothing wrong with any of these things – they're great! we love them all! - but instead of running the same-old rundown of metro area parks and rec and etc., here's a few things that you might not already know about it that you need to do this summer.

Read more.

The Week We Ate (The EID Week in Review)

Stella's got an eye for design. Photo by Josh Hanford, courtesy of Stella Good Coffee.

New distillery coming to Eastern Market! About time I get something civilized within walking distance.  (Well, stumbling...all of downtown is within walking distance, but stumbling distance is better.) Sorry Vivio's, but you don't count. [Detroit City Distillery FB]

We're one step closer to being able to fill growlers at bars and restaurants and have wine tastings at farmers' markets! [MLive]

Seriously you should go to this. Guns and Butter at Ponyride. [Thrillist]

Here's more about B Spot in the D spot. [Crain's]

Two out of two news section editors at Model D agree that The Grindhouse Food Truck is pretty spiffy. Read more about Corridor Sausage Co. going mobile, as well as their recent USDA approval allowing them to wholesale. [Model D]

I spent a whole day in Midland. This is why. More to come (including why this is news and why I would drive all the way out to Midland for it) ... later. (Much later.) [EID]

In case you missed it:
-The best-designed public spaces in Detroit right now are its ever-growing number of thoughtfully-designed coffeehouses. The newly-remodeled Stella Good Coffee inside the Fisher Building is joining those ranks. [EID]
-No but really. [Model D]
-I've got tickets to the sold-out Baconfest Michigan event on Saturday, June 1 to give away, but nothing in life is free. You need to give something in return. [EID]

Trinosophes is now serving brunch. [Trinosophes FB]

Mac and cheese: Detroit's contribution to the culinary world. Aside from hot dogs slathered in chili and square pizza with a thick crust. [Freep]

Speaking of square pizza with a thick crust, Buddy's Pizza was featured on Cooking Channel's "Pizza Cuz." [Freep]

Nice SCOOP, lolololololz. Concentrate writer Kim North Shine profiles Go Ice Cream, an artisan ice cream maker based in Ypsilanti which will be available to purchase online, at select markets, and (if you live in the area) by bicycle delivery. [Concentrate]

You don't have to drive four hours out to Traverse City to be in wine country, though you DO have to cross an international border. The 2013 WindsorEats Windsor-Essex Bikes and Beers and Wine Trail Rides have started; this beautiful country is less than an hour away and a lovely way to spend an afternoon IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY! [WindsorEats]

Dominion House Tavern (The DH) - another great reason to cross the border. [Windsor Star]

Ferndale's Woodward Avenue Candy Shoppe is closing. The space has a new tenant and owner Janie DeJaeghere plans to move somewhere else in Ferndale, while still taking orders for candies and baked goods as she looks for a new space. [Ferndale Patch]

Ferndale loses one sweets shop, gains another. [Ferndale Patch]

What's going in the old Five Lakes Grill/Cinco Lagos spot in Milford? UPSCALE BBQ. [EID FB]

The 'burbs are gettin' graffiti'ed up: first Birmingham (at Toast Birmingham), now Franklin. [Bloomfield Patch]

This "Simple" evening was anything but. Thrilled and flattered to have been a part of it, with thanks to all of the wonderful, lovely people who made it happen -- Luciano, Chet, Kyle, Joe, everyone! Now peep these pretty pics. [The Fresh Exchange]

This is kind of a quick-hitting list of different developments in the works downtown happening with the oversight of Quicken et.al., among them a possible second location for the owners of Vicente's Cuban Cuisine also serving Latin food. [Detroit News]

Vander Mill has completed their $600,000 renovation and has started canning three of their ciders, which will be available in stores starting this month. [Promote Michigan]

Travel blog-thing Gadling profiles Detroit. [Gadling]

Etc.
~Grand Rapids says to Kalamazoo, others: "SAY MY NAME, BITCH!" Welcome back, Beer City USA! Way to reclaim your title and MURDER the competition! (Just look at the stats.) [Examiner]

~Get ready for even more Chicagoans to infest Traverse City's wine country. [Chicago Tribune]

~MTV: still not playing music videos; now trying to be the Food Network. [MTV]

[HOT LIST] Scotch eggs

Ye Olde Scotch egg. Technically not era-appropriate but whatevs.

The Scotch egg. In addition to thanking the British for Shakespeare and Doctor Who, we can also thank them for this. It is a hard-boiled egg wrapped in sausage, coated in bread crumbs and deep-fried. Brilliant! Places that serve them are in short supply in metro Detroit (most people's first and probably only experience of them was likely at the Ren Faire, which only merely does the trick like any festival food), but no need to go all arse-over-tit trying to find some -- I've done the work for you. (With thanks to my western beerespondent for being my steel-stomached guinea pig.)

#1 Grange Kitchen + Bar (Ann Arbor)
All good things are made with duck. It's a Scotch egg only the egg comes from ducks from Our Family Farm in Manchester, MI. Duck eggs might be smaller but they are soooooo much richer than those of their pedestrian poultry cousin chicken. And if you question Chef Brandon Johns's commitment to local sourcing (or are just really passionate about it yourself), don't miss his annual 52 Mile Dinner on Nov. 7.

#2 One-Eyed Betty's (Ferndale)
Can you believe this place hasn't even been open a year yet? I feel like it has always been and forever will be. Like having a cell phone. Like, I know intellectually that there was a time in my life before it but it just seems so foreign and far removed from me now. So anyway, the Scotch egg is a fairly new menu item and it is ON POINT. Their secret to Scotchy awesomeness? Panko bread crumbs. It makes ALL of the difference. Not some. ALL.

#3 Red Coat Tavern (Royal Oak, West Bloomfield)
One of these days these guys are going to jump into the new millennium and get a real website. Until then you'll just have to take my word for it: they have Scotch eggs, and they are good. And as one of metro Detroit's mainstays of awesome Belgian beer lists, this place is a consistent win (maybe you've heard of their burgers?). Also now that Vinsetta Garage is reeling in all the traffic it might actually be easier to get a seat here!

#4 Wurst Bar (Ypsilanti)
You may have noticed that I pretty much love this place. (They are featured in three of the last five Hot Lists, including this one.) So yes, I really pretty much entirely love this place. But please take note: these are not Scotch eggs. These are motherfucking pterodactyl eggs. And for $5.95 you get two of these monsters, which are soft-boiled so that the yolks are all yummy and runny. Fair warning, if you eat them both you will likely spend most of the next day feeling like there is an actual pterodactyl in your intestines that is about to rip its way free Alien-style.

Pterodactyl eggs from the Wurst Bar.

#5 Dominion House Tavern (Windsor)
There are Scotch eggs and they have them, but the interesting thing about "the DH" -- located juuuuuuust across the border in Windsor, making it all of about 10-15 minutes depending on bridge and tunnel traffic (heh heh heh ehhhhhh, that only means something to New Yorkers) -- is its history. It is the oldest continuously-run tavern in the Border Region and would have served well on my Prohibition bars hot list except for that OH WAIT, CANADA DIDN'T HAVE PROHIBITION. Canada is awesome. And living on a border is also awesome. And also you can see metal bands play there without any of that "bridge and tunnel" newly-minted Canadian legal/American minor nonsense you get on Ouellette.

Bubbling under Concrete Cuisine (food truck; menu varies), Ye Olde Saloon (Royal Oak), Sean O'Callaghan's (Plymouth), Fort Street Brewery (Lincoln Park), O'Connor's Public House (Rochester)

Now THAT is a Scotch egg.