Hour Detroit | August 2023

MODERN FLAVOR. DETROIT VIBE.

Dine at Detroit’s finest modern steakhouse and lounge, crafted with a downtown vibe in mind.

For reservations: 313.465.1645 or visit mgmgranddetroit.com/dprime

Only at

21+. Excludes Michigan Disassociated Persons

32 Revisiting Detroit’s Iconic

Chef Michael Ransom and his Corktown restaurant Ima Izakaya recieved a third James Beard semifinalist nod in 2023. Ransom owns two other Ima locations; SuperCrisp (a sandwich shop); and Summertown Fresh Bar. But did you know he used to co-own a record store when he was just

CONTENTS

Up Front

‘THE DET ROIT NEWS’ TURNS 150

See some of the most iconic moments photographed for the paper over the years.

GOIN’ TO WORK

A longtime Lions fan attended Lions minicamp for Hour Here’s his 2023 preseason report.

COMIC SCIENCE

Ann Arbor’s Jim Ottaviani writes graphic novels about scientists who inspire him.

SHIFTING DYNAMICS

In Michigan, Muslims reported fewer instances of discrimination last year — what do the numbers mean? 24/Seven

TINY T REES

Our writer set out to get his first bonsai tree — and not kill it — with some help from local experts.

HE’S THE TOPS

Meet an Eastern Market retail owner who’s been dressing sharp since elementary school.

I NEED MY SPACE

This Oakland County kitchen was designed with comfort and cuisine in mind.

Agenda

CULTURE C ALENDAR

Stunning art exhibitions, an electronic music festival, and more to put on your radar this August.

HE’S LOCAL FOLK

Birmingham native Noel Paul Stookey recalls Peter, Paul and Mary’s performance at the March on Washington 60 years ago.

EXPLORING THE LAND OF FIRE AND ICE

See geysers and waterfalls, get rejuvenated, and geek out at Game of Thrones locales in Iceland.

Food&Drink

WASTE NOT, WANT NOT

A church kitchen in Detroit is making a difference for local residents, greater Detroit, and the planet.

ON THE WATERFRONT

You don’t have to go far to enjoy lakeside (or riverside) drinking.

ELEGANT EATS

Discover the best spots for a vegan fine-dining experience in metro Detroit.

Behind the Scenes

VOLUME TWENTY EIGHT ISSUE EIGHT

PUBLISHER: Jason Hosko

EDITORIAL

EDITOR: Kate Walsh

DEPUTY EDITOR: Scott Atkinson

DIGITAL EDITOR: Christina Clark

ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Jack Thomas

COPY EDITOR: Olivia Sedlacek

CONTRIBUTORS: Bill Dow, Paris Giles, Ryan Patrick Hooper, Mickey Lyons, John Maurice, Nicole Frehsee Mazur, Jenn McKee, Drew Saunders, Robert Stempkowski, Megan Swoyer, Cambrey Thomas, Robin Watson, Lauren Wethington

INTERNS: Claire Donohoe, Justice Seay, Hannah Young

DESIGN

CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Lindsay Richards

SENIOR PRODUCTION ARTIST: Stephanie Daniel

JUNIOR ART DIRECTOR: Steven Prokuda

GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Keagan Coop

CONTRIBUTORS: Nick Hagen, Chuk Nowak, Sal Rodriguez, Rebecca Simonov, Joe Tiano, Holly Wales

SALES

PUBLISHING AND SALES COORDINATOR: Mikala Bart

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Cynthia Barnhart, Karli Brown, Cathleen Francois, Donna Kassab, Lisa LaBelle, Mary Pantely & Associates, Jessica VanDerMaas

PRODUCTION

METRO DETROIT was heavily represented among the 2023 James Beard Award semifinalists and nominees. Profiling 13 culinary professionals from 12 restaurants and one bakery, we wanted to go beyond the menu and highlight the people who found success in a notoriously difficult business (as Anthony Bourdain once wrote, “To want to own a restaurant can be a strange and terrible affliction”).

Associate Editor Jack Thomas (above, left) profiled six of the chefs in “Cream of the Crop,” which starts on page 42. Thomas’s previous titles include line cook, server, and bartender. The writer/editor says he found it hard to stick to his assigned word count. “Chef Hajime Sato [of Sozai] is incredibly funny — I wish I could have fit more quotes from him. Or chef Ji Hye Kim [of Miss Kim] — she has a compelling story with many twists and turns. I just tried my best to capture everyone’s essence.”

CONTRIBUTORS

WHAT MAKES A GREAT RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE?

WROTE “ELEGANT EATS,” PAGE 100

“I seek out restaurants that make me feel valued. This might mean accommodating my vegan diet, providing attentive service, or just sharing an authentic conversation. For me, instilling such a feeling means more than decor or ambiance ever could.” Mary Bishop is a vegan food consultant and writer. Her company, The Vegan Mary, offers a suite of services including one-on-one coaching and professional recipe development.

She holds a Master of Science in administration from Central Michigan University and a plantbased nutrition certificate from Cornell University.

Drew Saunders

WROTE “SHIFTING

DYNAMICS,” PAGE 22

“To me, there are two kinds of ideal restaurants: one that either brings the most authentic version of a cuisine I’m not very familiar with to explore, or a restaurant that takes two completely different culinary traditions and transforms them into something brand new and wonderful. Metro Detroit is a hidden gem for both!” Drew Saunders is a freelance journalist who grew up in Whitmore Lake. He is equally a business journalist and an environmental journalist.

Saunders has a Bachelor of Science in journalism from Eastern Michigan University and a Master of Science in journalism from Columbia University.

Holly Wales

ILLUSTRATED “REVISITING

DETROIT’S ICONIC RESTAURANTS,” PAGE 32

“For me, it has to be down to the food — quality, organic ingredients and great presentation. I also have a passion for interiors, so ideally the place looks and feels good, too!” Holly Wales is a U.K.-based illustrator. Her work explores everything from hand-drawn maps to lettering and food. Holly’s client list includes Esquire GQ, The Guardian, The Wall Street Journal, the Victoria and Albert Museum, Urban Outfitters, and many more. She previously illustrated a weekly column for The New York Times Magazine

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR: Jenine Knox

SENIOR PRODUCTION COORDINATOR: Jill Berry

PRODUCTION ARTIST: Jonathan Boedecker

ADVERTISING COORDINATOR: Amanda Kozlowski

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS: Jim Bibart, Kathryn Dave

IT IT DIRECTOR: Jeremy Leland WEB

DIGITAL DIRECTOR: Nick Britsky

DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT MANAGER: Matthew Cappo

SENIOR DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST: Luanne Lim

DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT SPECIALISTS: Jim Bowser, Marissa Jacklyn, Kevin Pell

DIGITAL STRATEGY MANAGER: Travis Fletcher

DIGITAL MEDIA ASSISTANT: Robyn Banks

VIDEO PRODUCER: Nicole Toporowski

VIDEOGRAPHER: Heather Moody

CIRCULATION

CIRCULATION MANAGER: Riley Meyers

CIRCULATION COORDINATORS: David Benvenuto, Susan Combs, Jenna Degowski, Cathy Krajenke, Rachel Moulden, Michele Wold

MARKETING & EVENTS

MARKETING & EVENTS MANAGER: Jodie Svagr

MARKETING & EVENTS COORDINATOR: Jaime Presnail

COMMUNICATIONS & PR LEAD: Regan Blissett

MARKETING & EVENTS INTERNS: Morgan Barbat, Delia Bechmann, Natalie Brooks, Julia Tatone, Yessica Villarruel

MARKETING RESEARCH

MARKETING RESEARCH DIRECTOR: Sofia Shevin

MARKETING RESEARCH COORDINATOR: Kristin Mingo

MARKETING RESEARCH SALES COORDINATOR: Alexandra Thompson

MARKETING RESEARCH ASSISTANT: Alyssa Fueri

MARKETING RESEARCH SALES ASSISTANT: Cassandra Morris

PRS GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Alexa Dyer

MARKETING RESEARCH INTERNS: Anna Klucens, Megan Ko, Natalie Manor

BUSINESS

CEO: Stefan Wanczyk

PRESIDENT: John Balardo

DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS: Kathie Gorecki

ASSISTANT OFFICE MANAGER: Natasha Bajju

SENIOR ACCOUNTING ASSOCIATE: Andrew Kotzian

ACCOUNTING ASSOCIATES: Samantha Dick, Austin Schmelzle

DISTRIBUTION: Target Distribution, Troy

5750 NEW KING DRIVE, TROY, MI 48098

TELEPHONE: 248-691-1800

Mary Bishop

EDITOR’S LETTER

Pull in your chair, tuck in your napkin,

and get ready to dig in to Hour Detroit’s annual Food Issue. Whereas last year we brought you the 10 best new restaurants in metro Detroit, this year we are turning the tables and paying homage to 11 of the region’s most iconic eateries.

We realized that while these fine-dining restaurants are still going strong, they’re not getting the love they deserve on our pages, which are often devoted to what’s new in the region’s food scene. Our list includes a variety of international cuisines — from the city and the suburbs — and all restaurants are at least 30 years old; the most veteran is just six years shy of its centennial.

In each Food Issue, we also pay tribute to the folks bringing the food to the tables. This year, we’re profiling the local chefs and restaurateurs recognized by the James Beard Foundation’s Awards Committee in 2023, who earned either a semifinalist nod or a nomination in the following categories: outstanding chef, outstanding restaurateur, outstanding bakery, and best chef, Great Lakes. You’ll find some old favorites, like the previously nominated Andy Hollyday of Selden Standard, and those newer to the scene, like chef Hajime Sato of Sozai.

While none of our finalists came home with an award in early June, we recognize that it is a huge honor to be named as a semifinalist or nominee, and we want to celebrate that achievement.

There are also two James Beard Media Award winners I would like to mention on this page.

Lyndsay C. Green, a restaurant and dining critic for the Detroit Free Press and former managing and dining editor for Hour, won the James Beard Journalism Award for emerging voice, and Mark Kurlyandchik, former senior editor for Hour and former Free Press restaurant critic, was at the ceremony to pick up the award for top documentary for Coldwater Kitchen, which he codirected with Brian Kaufman, executive video producer for the Free Press

I spoke to Mark a few weeks after the award ceremony, and he said winning a James Beard Award “is the pinnacle. It is the highest honor in food. I kind of straddle this space where I have friends in documentary and I have friends in food. There’s definitely a lot more excitement from all of the chefs in my life, who really understand what this means more than anyone else. I’ve made this transition of covering the community to being a part of it. And so yeah, it’s just been really fulfilling, validating, rewarding.”

To hear what being honored by the foundation means to the metro Detroit chefs and restaurateurs from establishments such as Baobab Fare, El Barzón Restaurante, Miss Kim, and more, turn to page 42.

In addition to our food-related features, this issue also includes a reporter’s observations from visits to the Lions’ press-day minicamp, a photo feature commemorating The Detroit News’ 150th anniversary, a report on discrimination against Muslims, and much more to sink your teeth into.

Bon appétit!

KATE WALSH, EDITOR K WALSH@HOUR-MEDIA.COM

From Our Readers

“So exciting to have this amazing restaurant in my hometown!” (“Host Is the Most,” June)

—@r_turco71, Instagram

“The best indeed! The [Detroit Institute of Arts] is wonderful for many reasons.”

(Best of Detroit — Best Art Museum, June) —Victoria Urban Scott, Facebook

“Love the outfits, especially the pop of pink with black. [Asima Khan] has a very unique sense of style. Very informative piece.” (“Summer Style,” June) —@hadiaikhan, Instagram

“[John Prusak] was my art teacher at Lincoln Elementary 20-some years [ago]. Later, he was my daughter’s photography teacher at the voc-tech center in the Wayne-Westland district in which I also work. Great guy.” (“Remembering John Prusak,” June)

—Mike Szabo, Facebook

Hourdetroit.com

Digital Extra

Summer is coming to a close, but there are still plenty of ways to soak up the last bit of sun in metro Detroit before crisp fall weather — and the school year — rolls in. Get details on late-summer activities, events, and more things to do before the end of summer at hourdetroit.com/ latesummerfun.

Follow us online at hourdetroit.com or on social media:

@hourdetroit

@hour_detroit

@hourdetroitmagazine

KW Red Day 2023

Flint Institute of Arts - The Party

Superior Orthodontics Grand Opening

Photographs by Carrie Hall

Monica Daly, Amy Osterbeck, and Nadia Grymalut

Samuel Kole-James, Yarnise Hines, and Emmanuel Kole-James

Ashley Toth-McMillan and Lauren Watkins

Michael Lewis, Jae Lynn Lewis, Kim McClimans, and Gordon McClimans

Joy DiMaggio, Laith Alkhafaji, Bia Siminovich, and Deborah Falzon

Chris Carpenter, Stephanie Carpenter, Dawson Carpenter, and Alex Marsee

Syed Ahmed, Laila Ahmed, Cindy Niles, and Dan Niles

Richard Perry, Raven Perry, Rich Perry, and LaSonya Perry

Dr. Uchenna Kole-James, Monique Owens, and Dr. Kishawn Kole-James

Celeste Lord Timlin and Talisha Gilbert

Jaquiese Gray and Shaquevia Bryson

Matt Doran, Jeremy Sanders, Kyle Lynch, and Matt Franklin

Phillip and Valerie Thompson

Photographs by Client Photographer

Superior Orthodontics Staff

Photographs by Rodrick Nixon

Brittany Fulton, Amber Gray, and Cindy Juliano

Joi Goss, Justinna Hawkins, Dr. Kitchen, and Bilal Nammour

ANNIVERSARY

‘The Detroit News’ Turns 150

Here we take a look back at some of the most iconic moments captured by the daily newspaper

BY SCOTT ATKINSON AND JACK THOMAS

MILESTONES ARE ALWAYS important, but there’s something extra special about seeing a legacy newspaper in one of America’s largest cities turn 150. In an era when we’ve seen some of the most iconic news organizations fall — not to mention the countless unmentioned smaller ones — getting your local news delivered by local reporters, on actual printed paper, no less, is certainly something worth celebrating.

And The Detroit News is celebrating, starting with the release of a specially made bourbon (the label features its front page from the day Prohibition was repealed), a commemorative book and, through Aug. 23 (the paper’s official birthday), a 150-day

The First Photo Pulitzer

In 1937, tensions in the labor movement were high, and the News captured the atmosphere in words as well as photos, including this one, in which men from Ford Motor Co.’s security department attack a group of unionists. “Pulitzer at the time had awards for print journalism,” Pat Zacharias, head librarian for the News said in 2016. “They saw that image and said we need a category for photography. So even though this photo did not win the Pulitzer, that category was created as a result of this photo.”

countdown listing the 150 Michigan residents who have most affected our news and lives over the last century and a half.

At Hour Detroit, we felt the moment was worth celebrating as well, and so we sat down with The Detroit News to talk about some of the most iconic moments the paper has captured with a camera in the last 150 years. How to choose among thousands of photos? It wasn’t easy, but after talking about different categories we might consider — news, history, sports, entertainment — we settled on the eight assembled here.

Enjoy maybe with a glass of bourbon.

Steve Yzerman Lifts the Stanley Cup

It was one of the most memorable moments in Detroit sports history when, on June 7, 1997, the Red Wings won the Stanley Cup inside Joe Louis Arena — the first time they’d won the title in 42 years. Sweeping the Philadelphia Flyers in four games, the Wings also had one of the most memorable lineups in NHL history with Yzerman as captain, plus the Russian Five: Sergei Fedorov, Igor Larionov, Vyacheslav Kozlov, Vladimir Konstantinov, and Viacheslav Fetisov. “The anticipation for that Cup victory was huge,” says Detroit News photographer David Guralnick. “This is when they finally broke through. Two years prior, they were swept by the Devils and then again by the Avalanche, and finally, in 1997, they took care of business.”

Gyrocopter

Before there were drones, there were gyrocopters. From 1931 to 1933, The Detroit News used a “specially designed autogiro,” according to the paper’s archives, “the first of its kind used for news gathering, aerial photography and emergency distribution of papers.” It was later given to the Henry Ford Museum.

MLK Gives the First ‘I Have a Dream’ Speech

Detroit heard it first. Before Martin Luther King Jr. gave his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech in Washington, D.C., he gave another version of it in Detroit. The lighting in this photo may make it look like King is outside, but he’s really inside a packed Cobo Hall in 1963.

Bootlegging

over the Detroit River

Detroit was a perfect spot for bootleggers, with Canada just a short icy drive away. The ice made for a great road except for when it didn’t, as seen in this Prohibition-era photo when a driver’s car, possibly overloaded with booze, crashed through.

2004 Champions

The Palace of Auburn Hills was home to one of the biggest upsets in American sports, period. In the 2004 NBA Finals, the Detroit Pistons easily bested the heavily favored Los Angeles Lakers 4-1. After a 100-87 win in the last game, center Ben Wallace triumphantly

Diana Ross and Berry Gordy

This photo captures a moment in 1965 at Motown Records’ Studio A on West Grand Boulevard, as Berry Gordy Jr. listens while The Supremes record a track.

Gordy is pictured here with (from left) Mary Wilson, Florence Ballard, and Diana Ross. Gordy and Ross were a longtime couple; they started as professionals but over time fell in love.

“It’s very clear why I fell in love with Diana,” Gordy told Vanity Fair in 2008. “She was my star, and she came from the bottom up. With her it was not only fun, it was just like heaven working with her because she would surpass anything.”

holds the trophy, celebrating Detroit’s first world championship victory since 1990 and, unfortunately, the only one since. “Their defense was out of control — I knew we weren’t going to beat them at Game 1,” Gary Payton, a Lakers point guard that season, admitted in a recent interview with VladTV.

Throwing the Octopus

When it comes to covering sports, Detroit News Managing Editor Kevin J. Hardy says, it’s not just about watching the game. It’s also about the fans. That’s why this octopus throwing photo by Guralnick is among his favorites. Noting the man on the left, Hardy says, “I want to see the frame after that.”

On the second day of minicamp, quarterback Jared Goff does toe touches with his teammates.

Holmes and Campbell first took the reins, they were leading a team that had ended the 2020 season with a 5-11 record and a last-place division finish, setting franchise records for both points and yards allowed. Holmes and Campbell immediately began taking the steps necessary to transform the identity of this team and to begin establishing a winning culture. Just days into their tenure, they pulled off a blockbuster trade, shipping Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams for quarterback Jared Goff and three draft picks. Due to some skillful draft day maneuvering the last two years, those three picks were eventually parlayed into six, helping the Lions to acquire more of the pieces that a successful franchise could be built on.

To understand this team and the energy surrounding it, let’s talk a little bit about minicamp. While Campbell didn’t reveal much in his press conferences, his confidence in the process and in his players was evident. During the practice sessions, he was front and center, not on the sidelines observing. He actually gets in there and coaches, and his enthusiasm is contagious.

From the day he was hired, Campbell has stated that he wants to build this team with character and grit. As outlined on Hard Knocks, he established four simple rules for his players: Don’t be late, keep your weight in check, don’t disrespect your teammates, and don’t disrespect the game. Through the ups and downs of his first two seasons, he has remained consistent with his message, and the team is where he expects it to be. In one of his minicamp press conferences, he outlined the steps that he and Holmes have taken to build this team.

Year 1 (2021): Figure out what they have and what was left from the previous coaching staff.

Year 2 (2022): Hone the process and start to fit the pieces together.

SPORTS

Goin’ to Work

A longtime Lions fan attended the team’s minicamp for Hour Here’s his 2023 preseason report.

BY JOHN MAURICE | PHOTOS BY SAL RODRIGUEZ

IN EARLY JUNE, I was invited to attend the Detroit Lions’ three-day minicamp for the very first time. Each day, I attended Dan Campbell’s press conferences and then watched the team run through its practice sessions for a couple of hours.

Seeing the team in person and looking back on my 50-plus-year history as a Lions fan, I have to say that this year just feels different. Naysayers

will accuse me of jumping on the Honolulu blue bandwagon, but what we’ve all witnessed from this team over the last nine months has set my expectations high for the upcoming season. With the 2022 season ending on such a high note (a winning record!), the team being strengthened through several free-agent acquisitions, and a draft class that ranks at least as a solid B, how could you not be at least a little optimistic? This team appears to have assembled the pieces to contend in 2023.

The hype isn’t all from metro Detroiters. Sports Illustrated, USA Today, and Fox Sports, among others, are predicting an NFC North title for this team. And the NFL itself gave the Lions a nod by pitting them against the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, in the Thursday night season opener.

Predictions are one thing, but as we enter the third year of the building process under Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes, this team still has something to prove to its fans and to the football world in general. Back in early 2021 when

Year 3 (2023): Acquire more pieces and strengthen areas of weakness.

As we approach the 2023 season, it’s time to see how this process has worked and how it translates to success on the field.

This year’s team looks to build on the lateseason success of that 2022 team, but it will look quite a bit different, especially on the offensive side of the ball. With the departure of last year’s top two running backs, Jamaal Williams and D’Andre Swift, there’ll be some gaps to fill and 22 rushing touchdowns to account for. Newcomers free agent David Montgomery from the Chicago Bears and 2023 No. 12 overall pick Jahmyr Gibbs appear well poised to take on the challenge. In addition to Gibbs, 2023 draftees Jack Campbell (linebacker), Sam LaPorta (tight end), and Brian Branch (defensive back) expect to see significant playing time this season. Other key additions are free agents C.J. Gardner-Johnson (defensive back), Cameron Sutton (cornerback), and Emmanuel Moseley (cornerback) on defense. Offensively,

BOOKS

wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. rejoins the team he played for from 2016 to 2020 after spending the last two seasons in Jacksonville.

In a few short months, we’ll know how these 2023 Lions measure up, but I do see similarities between this current team and other Detroit teams that have had success, won championships, and become beloved by this city, such as the ’84 Tigers, the Red Wings of the late ’90s and early 2000s, and the Pistons teams of both the Bad Boys era of 1986-92 and the Goin’ to Work era of the early 2000s.

In their own ways, each of these teams adopted the persona of the city they represented. Detroit has long had a reputation for hard work, determination, and the ability to rise above our circumstances. Most of the teams listed above were teams in the truest sense of the word, built from pieces that fit together perfectly, teams that we as Detroiters could identify with and be proud of. These were teams built on their work ethic, built with many very good players but not many who were considered to be superstars. What those teams did contain were players who were heroes to us as fans, players who had hustle. With these teams, you never knew from one game to the next who was going to be the hero, but someone — like a Vinnie Johnson or a Tom Brookens — always found a way to step up.

This Lions team has the potential to fit that mold and an opportunity to establish a franchise that this city can be proud of. Is our patience going to be rewarded this season, or are we fated to be disappointed once again? As Campbell is fond of saying, you have to trust the process.

COMIC SCIENCE

Ann Arbor graphic novelist Jim Ottaviani combined his love for science and comics by writing graphic novel-style biographies of the scientists who most inspire him

BY JENN MCKEE

PHOTO BY SAL RODRIGUEZ

The zigzaggy career of Ann Arbor-based author Jim Ottaviani — who’s now published more than a dozen science-centric graphic novels — began, in part, via a National Geographic article about nuclear engineering that featured illustrations by Barron Storey, an artist who, fittingly, inspired no small number of comic book creators.

“I decided junior or senior year that [nuclear engineering] was what I’d do,” says Ottaviani, who had at the time been a high school student living outside of Chicago.

After earning his bachelor’s degree at the University of Illinois UrbanaChampaign, Ottaviani came to Ann Arbor for a master’s degree in the same subject, then moved to Philadelphia to become a consultant for regional utility companies. He took a few library science courses at nearby Drexel University to broaden his skills as a nuclear engineering consultant, then decided to take a hard left turn. He came back to the University of Michigan to pursue a master’s in library science.

“It was a dive down the income ladder that most people are not willing to contemplate,” Ottaviani jokes. “And now I write comics, as I continue in free fall.”

Yes, while working as an engineering librarian for U-M (he’s now retired), Ottaviani first ventured into authordom in the 1990s. Though Ottaviani had long been a comics fan, he’d only written reviews of them online before a casual conversation with comic book artist Steve Lieber led Ottaviani to develop his first graphic novel, Two-Fisted Science

a collection of stories about influential scientists.

Several more graphic novels followed, including his most recent, Einstein, as well as Feynman Hawking

The Imitation Game: Alan Turing Decoded Astronauts: Women on the Final Frontier, T-Minus: The Race to the Moon, and others.

The latter titles hint at Ottaviani’s longtime fascination with space exploration, so it’s easy to imagine his excitement at being named a NASA solar system ambassador in March.

In this capacity, Ottaviani has thus far helped judge a scholarship competition and a photo contest, but he also hopes to deliver presentations in local schools (and beyond).

“If you are younger than 21 — which will be a lot of the people I’ll be talking to there have been people living in space all your life,” Ottaviani says. “That’s kind of wild. And for folks our age, we knew about nine planets. We now know about thousands. So things have been happening.”

Ottaviani applied to be part of NASA’s volunteer program after visiting Headlands International Dark Sky Park in Mackinaw City last summer. “Prior to the observing time, there was a presentation,” Ottaviani says. “This person was a solar system ambassador, and I thought, ‘Wow, that’s a cool thing to do.’”

As for Ottaviani’s next graphic novel, the writer drew inspiration from another longtime personal interest: running.

More specifically, Ottaviani found himself transfixed by Nike’s Breaking2 project, in which Kenyan runner Eliud Kipchoge attempted, in controlled circumstances, to run a marathon’s distance

in less than two hours.

Kipchoge’s first try happened in Italy in 2017. At the same moment, at home here in Michigan, Ottaviani asked his wife if she’d stay up another half-hour to watch Kipchoge’s start.

“We ended up staying up until 2:30, 3 in the morning — whenever it was over — just because it was so fascinating to watch,” Ottaviani says. “This man is beautiful when he runs. But he failed. Two years later, he did it with slightly improved shoes, a new wedge of people breaking the wind in front of him, a better pace car in front — all these crazy things, all these little adjustments that it takes to do something like this. And that’s what got me thinking: What are the limits?”

Limits the working title of Ottaviani’s next book, thus explores the limits of human physical and mental performance, and it’s targeted at middle schoolaged readers.

Expanding beyond Kipchoge’s ambition, Ottaviani also chronicles in the book the push to break the four-minute mile; the reasons why no sprinter will likely get all that close to a nine-second 100-meter dash (“The force you have to apply to the ground, and the amount of time that you have to lift back up, needs an impact that’s so hard that it would start tearing apart your joints and your tendons,” Ottaviani explains); and perspectives on how high we can jump, how much we can lift, and how participating in a team can alter performance.

“I just got interested and started learning more about it,” Ottaviani says.

But then, that seems to be the start of all Ottaviani’s graphic novel projects.

Ottaviani biographized Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking, and many other scientists.

 Cornerbacks Will Harris (left) and new recruit Cameron Sutton practice blocking and receiving.

DETROIT DIGITS

The cost in cents per minute for a tour of Ford Field. The Detroit Lions’ 1.85 million-square-foot home has been named the NFL stadium with the best value-for-money tours, according to online sports betting company USBettingReport.com

In last place was Nissan Stadium, home of the Tennessee Titans, which charges $12.50 per minute — $750 total — for a private one-hour tour. In comparison, Ford Field visitors get 90 minutes of behindthe-scenes access to the field, suites, and locker rooms for $12.

SHIFTING DYNAMICS

The number of Michigan cities ranked among the nation’s 50 most mosquito-infested areas, according to pest control company Orkin. The highest-ranking Michigan city on the list was Detroit, in eighth place — one spot lower than it held on the 2022 roundup. Grand Rapids climbed five spots to rank 23rd, and Flint moved up a whopping seven spots, ranking 35th. Midwestern cities accounted for over a quarter of the list.

THE NATIONAL landscape of discrimination facing Muslim Americans is changing fast, according to a report this spring by civil rights group the Council on American-Islamic Relations. The report reveals a trend of decreasing discrimination overall, especially when it comes to interactions with the government. In Michigan, the shifting dynamics are a bit more nuanced.

Detroit’s number of independent pizza restaurants per 100,000 residents — the highest of 50 cities surveyed last year by Anytime Estimate. Statistically speaking, there’s a pizzeria every 1.58 miles. The company also ranks Detroit No. 1 for “pizza passion,” meaning residents seek an especially wide variety of pizza styles, Google search data shows. The Motor City won’t settle for a plain old slice of cheese.

BY DREW SAUNDERS

PHOTO BY NICK HAGEN

“I think that being Muslim in Michigan offers some unique opportunities that we don’t have other places. The fact that we have a large presence here in Michigan — a lot of people have festivals that provide us a way to celebrate our religion in a way that a lot of people in other states don’t have,” says Amy Doukoure, the Michigan staff attorney for CAIR. “Michigan also has some problematic policies. We’re a state that really rallied behind [former President Donald] Trump in some places, which led to a surge in Islamophobic behavior for a period of time that we’re still seeing some ramifications of.”

In 2022, CAIR received a total of 5,156 complaints of incidents of discrimination nationwide, a 23 percent decrease from 2021, according to the council’s 2023 report. “Domestic politics have been less volatile over the last couple of years,” the report says. “Less volatility may have contributed to a reduction in the number of complaints. We note that complaints about law enforcement and government overreach dropped by 38 percent. At the same time, complaints about school incidents increased by 63 percent.”

CAIR’s Michigan chapter has also reported an increase in the proportion of education-related complaints, more than doubling from 4 percent of total complaints in 2020 to 9 percent in 2022. Other areas are seeing improvement, in particular travel.

“What CAIR-MI saw in 2021 is that there are still specific trends affecting Muslims while they travel, including a significant increase in electronics seizures at the border,” the CAIR Michigan report from 2022 reads. “However, the total number of complaints from Muslims related to difficulties traveling had decreased by nearly 50%. We also saw a trending upwards of employment and school related issues along with intakes related to religious rights of incarcerees.”

CAIR’s 2023 report also noted a sharp decrease in the number of discriminatory incidents between Muslim citizens and law enforcement since the current administration took over the White House.

Dawn Ison, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, notes that law enforcement has been more proactive in combating discrimination. “In some ways, we have made progress in Michigan and at the federal level, but we still have work to do,” she says. “Some of the reasons that we have seen an improvement, as the report noted, in law enforcement at the federal level is because of our engagement. There was a decrease in complaints against the FBI and CPB [Customs and Border Protection]. We really do engage with the community a lot, listen to those concerns, and respond to them.”

For those who have experienced discrimination, she says it’s important to reach out to the authorities — as well as CAIR. “Do not suffer in silence. We are a resource for these communities, and they should utilize us. Call the FBI, and call us, and we will respond.”

CAIR has resources available for anyone who has been a victim of discrimination. The organization can be reached by phone at 248-559-2247, by email at info@cairmichigan.org, or online at cair.com.

According to recent reports, discrimination against Muslims is decreasing, but locally and nationally, work remains to be done

 Amy Doukoure is the Michigan staff attorney for the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

TOP LAWYERS WOMEN LEADERS

BASED UPON A SURVEY OF THEIR PEERS

These LEADING LAWYERS have been recommended by their peers to be among the TOP LAWYERS in Michigan

CANNOT buy the distinction of Leading Lawyer. The distinction was earned by being among those lawyers most often recommended by their peers. For a full description of our research process, a complete list of all Leading Lawyers, and to view profiles of the lawyers listed on this page, go to

BONSAI FOR DUMMIES

HORTICULTURE

TINY TREES

The ancient art of bonsai is alive and well in metro Detroit. Our writer set out to get his first tree — and not kill it — with some help from local experts.

WRITTEN AND PHOTOS BY SCOTT ATKINSON

I INTRODUCED MYSELF to Ray Zeno as a serial killer.

We were in the back of Telly’s Greenhouse, where he sat working at an old folding table among a forest of potted trees — bonsai. Directly to his right was the bonsai hospital, full of brown recovering trees, which I wish I’d known existed during all the years I’ve spent killing little trees.

No plants are safe around me, or at least in my care. Our house is full of plants my wife, Kristie, tends to — jade plants, money trees, cacti, succulents, and flowers I should know the name of by now. I only water them if asked, and Kristie has learned that it’s better not to ask. In high school, I killed a cactus, learning that the desert plants do need at least some water as it shriveled and died, turning into its own spiky and neglected tombstone.

And yet, like anyone who has seen The Karate Kid too many times, I am drawn to bonsai, some of the most difficult domesticated plants to look after. After killing several over the years, I saw my buddy Dave on Facebook start his own bonsai practice. Just the sight of those beautiful little

trees would have brought me peace if I hadn’t been immediately jealous. I was also curious where he was learning all this — as it turns out, metro Detroit has a small but thriving bonsai enthusiast community.

And so Dave brought me to Telly’s, one of his favorite bonsai spots, and that’s where we met bonsai artist Ray Zeno.

Recently retired, Zeno, 70, is 10 years into his bonsai obsession? He didn’t call it that, but after I introduced myself and Dave, I quickly became the third wheel on their impromptu bonsai date. They talked about their trees and varieties, the different styles they played with and aspired to try. “I like maples,” I offered once, and then I decided it was better just to listen.

Bonsai, literally translated, means “planting in pot.” The art dates back thousands of years — as do some still-living bonsai. It is a special kind of plant-tending in that it involves not only attention but patience. A good bonsai is not grown in a year, or even five. While we talked, Zeno took a pair of shears to a gorgeous jasmine tree, about 3

Caption Tk

Telly’s Greenhouse sells a variety of bonsai trees and also features a “bonsai hospital” for ailing trees. The greenhouse also offers bonsai classes.

feet tall and valued at $6,000. It was 60 years old.

When it blooms, he said, the scent is just incredible. I asked him when it would bloom. He shrugged, grinned. “Bonsai bloom when they’re happy,” he said.

That was the kind of Miyagi-like wisdom we were after.

I opted for a tree that cost $15 and a pot that cost $20. The tree was a bushy little juniper that Dave recommended because of its long main trunk, allowing more options for shaping it with wire. That was great — I was looking forward to that part of it, the trimming and shaping of the tree. Part of the art of bonsai is growing the small trees in different shapes that mimic nature (though some opt for less-natural looks). But I also wanted to keep the damn thing alive.

Zeno gave me the fundamentals: Line the bottom of the pot with gravel, then plant the tree in a special bonsai soil (I’d never known about that), and keep it watered — watered the right way.

Keep the dirt moist, but not too wet. Not too dry, either.

We drove to a nearby park, where Dave talked me through the basics of potting, styling, and trimming a tree. I did my best, finishing up at home before showing Kristie and putting it on the railing of our back porch (another pro tip: Most bonsai need to be outside; they are trees, after all).

“You know,” Kristie said the next morning, as we sipped our coffee, “it was

Where to Go in Metro Detroit for Bonsai Trees

When it comes to growing and caring for your own bonsai, you need somewhere to buy your tree but also people to help you along the way. Here are the three places I found in starting my bonsai journey.

The Flower Market

The last place Dave wanted to take me, and still on my list to visit, is The Flower Market. Located in Monroe, it is Michigan’s largest bonsai garden and offers a variety of bonsai classes and workshops.

8930 S. Custer Road, Monroe; 734-269-2660; flowermarketdundee.com

Bonsai House

According to its owner, this is the oldest bonsai shop in Michigan. It has a friendly atmosphere and helpful staff.

8653 N. Inkster Road, Westland; 734-421-3434; facebook.com/bonsaihousemi

Telly’s Greenhouse

With a bonsai hospital for struggling trees and classes ranging from beginning to advanced, this is a great spot to start, and continue, your bonsai journey.

3301 John R Road, Troy; 248-689-8735; tellys.com/tellys-bonsai

cold last night. You probably should have brought that bonsai in for the night.”

The Finer Points of Dirt

My next trip with Dave was to the Bonsai House in Westland.

We entered through the back, via an outdoor walkway lined with empty bonsai pots (shallower than a typical flowerpot) on one side and little trees in various stages of growth on the other. Beyond that was a small outdoor nursery of potted trees at various levels of maturity — little ficus and maple trees still growing into their full size, junipers in different styles, a redwood 3 feet tall.

Inside we met Preeya Siy, who had opened the shop 35 years ago when her bonsai hobby had reached a point where she could no longer store all the trees she was raising at home. One day, she and her husband drove by a small house for sale in Westland and later bought it, had it rezoned for commercial use, and filled it with her trees. The Bonsai House, Michigan’s first bonsai shop, she says, was born. She had first encountered bonsai trees when visiting her grandfather in China (she grew up in Thailand). She remembered watching him tend to the trees at night, looking at them with a flashlight, which left her wondering just what in the heck he was doing. He was looking for insects, she learned, which did not make bonsai any more appealing (“I just [thought], ‘He’s funny,’” she says).

Dave and I scoured the shelves outside for trees that caught our eye

Bonsai artist Ray Zeno stands beside a 60-year-old jasmine bonsai, among several other trees. Properly cared for, some bonsai can live hundreds of years.

before I went back inside to chat with Siy. When he joined me inside, he had another ficus with a giant, gnarled root system he said I needed to buy — and added that I needed to appreciate what a wonderful person he was for allowing me, instead of him, to have this tree. He dubbed himself its godfather. Siy looked at me and said, “That tree will grow for 4,000 years.” I did not say that I was hoping at least for one.

While we talked with Siy, I told Dave this was the time to ask questions, when he could use the journalist’s license to be nosy. I thought I was doing him a great favor. Here we were, in Michigan’s original bonsai shop, talking to an expert about her life. Surely, there was some deep and probing question he wanted to ask.

There is a brief note in my notebook in which I recorded the moment. It reads: “I tell Dave to ask questions — he asks about f---ing soil.”

As they discussed the finer points of dirt, I began to figure out what this was all about, what it took for bonsai to thrive: obsession.

Gardening is hard enough, but growing bonsai is something else entirely. Trees are not meant for pots, the way animals in the zoo are not meant for cages, and it’s up to people to fill the gaps, to look after them and give them a life they deserve.

Maybe, I thought, these trees were doomed. Maybe my ficus belonged with his godfather. While they talked, I went outside to pick a pot for my ficus. I looked through the different styles glazed, plain, rectangular, oval. I set the ficus, currently in a plastic planter, inside a pot and tried to imagine it at home there, how it might look potted and wired, how it might look a year from now — or 10. I brushed my hands over the frail limbs, pushing them into the shape Siy had recommended when we showed her the tree. From her chair behind her desk, she spotted me though the open door, pointed, and turned to Dave.

“Scott is hooked now,” she said.

Maybe she’s right. Maybe these trees have a chance after all.



Preeya Siy, owner of the Bonsai House in Inkster, started her business about 35 years ago, after she’d collected so many bonsai she said she needed to open a shop to hold them all.

MI STYLE

HE’S THE TOPS

For Deron Washington, of Shops on Top at Eastern Market, looking his best can be as simple as sporting a crisp white shirt with a fresh shave

BY PARIS GILES | PHOTO BY SAL RODRIGUEZ

LEARNING TO FLEX one’s fashion muscle can take time, but Shops on Top CEO Deron Washington had developed a standout sense of style by elementary school. As early as age 8, he was asking to be sent to school in dress shirts and ties, and in high school, the outfits he’d put together with clothes culled from thrift shops would win him “Best Dressed” in the student mock elections.

In 1989, he opened his first retail space, a 100-square-foot tie and accessories shop in Franklin. That was the start of a decades-

long career in fashion retail that has included multiple shops, including ones in Northland Center and Trappers Alley — two relics of Detroit’s fashion history. Washington was also co-owner of Julian Scott Inc., the nation’s first Black-owned department store, which opened in downtown Detroit in 2003. He says, “I’m not a bragger. I’m a very humble person, but you’re talking to the guy that started the rebirth of retail in downtown Detroit.”

More recently, in fall 2017, he and his wife, Tina, opened Shops on Top, a small shopping center

overlooking Eastern Market that features three clothing stores, a leather gallery, and a coffee shop — each owned and operated by the husbandand-wife team. “We are dedicated to our craft, no matter what,” Washington says. Inside the space are Modele Dress, offering sophisticated yet edgy women’s clothing and accessories; a haberdashery of sorts called High Street; and a T-shirt brand dubbed Y Not Detroit. Washington says the tees, and Shops on Top as a whole, purposely raise the question: Why not live, work, play, shop, and serve in Detroit?

Among a sea of athleisure, you’re likely to find Washington dressed in a slickly tailored suit and a peaked cap. Here, the retailer shares his style influences and how he sees the future of fashion in Detroit.

My biggest style inspiration is … My mother. When I was coming up — I know it sounds kind of corny, but she was a classy dresser, dressed to the nines. She’s wearing two-piece suits and some of the cleanest shoes that you ever want to find. Matching purse with the matching bag. She was always classy, nice blouses —- just neat, super neat. When I saw her, I said, “Man, my mom is sharp.” That’s where I got my swag from. My dad wasn’t living with us when I was coming up, but he was also a sharp person. They both came from the South.

Three staples that should be in every man’s wardrobe are No. 1, a navy blue suit. They should also have at least one tie. These days, it’s kind of hard to find men wearing ties, but at least one tie. And a nice Cognac dress shoe or casual shoe.

When I get dressed in the morning and head out, I want to feel … Clean, real clean: crisp white shirt, nice pair of slacks, clean shoes. Nice shave, clean face, smelling good, refreshed. I feel good when I do that. And there’s something about a crisp white shirt, too, that just looks good.

One trend I’d like to see come back around is People getting dressed up more.

What most excites me about the future of fashion in Detroit is … That the city is growing.

You have more people coming [in]. All the retailers get a chance to make more money, a chance to survive, live longer, and build a business. If you have people in your city, you will get all walks of life to look at and try different fashions. It’s all about people. Fashion is everything, everybody. Fashion is everyone.

Deron Washington poses in High Street, sporting an Epoch linen apple cap, blue stripe seersucker suit by Ferrecci USA, and suede shoes by Stacy Adams.

“When I saw her, I said, ‘Man, my mom is sharp.’ That’s where I got my swag from.”

—DERON WASHINGTON

This Oakland County kitchen was redesigned for comfort and cuisine

BY MEGAN SWOYER PHOTOS BY WAYUP MEDIA

RENOVATING FOR FAMILY TIME

LIKE MANY young families living in older houses, Ryan and Chelsea Pasquali of Bloomfield Hills wanted to change their 1974 ranch-style home’s layout and design to accommodate a more modern lifestyle. They wanted a flowing floor plan and the ability to entertain family and friends comfortably. For the kitchen, must-haves were lots of dining space, a massive cooking and food-prep area, and an open design so they could see their children (Marco, 4, and Mariella, 6) playing in the adjacent family area.

“We asked ourselves, How can we create something where people will want to be here? How [can we] make it comfortable?” recalls Chelsea, who is an intellectual property attorney for the law firm Brooks Kushman.

Last year, the couple called on interior designer Kristen Eleni Shellenbarger of Bloomfield Hills-based Iron Key Designs. Shellenbarger likes to consider a typical day in the life for her clients. “The kitchen has to work for everyone,” Shellenbarger says. “I consider who cooks — do family members cook together? Sometimes they need a dual-height island.”

Besides the kitchen, Shellenbarger also worked on the family’s mudroom, master bathroom, office, and family room. Ryan owns Impero Home Renovations and played a huge role in renovating the home, which is now has a craftsman-style design.

The following elements transformed the Pasqualis’ kitchen into the heart of the home.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Filled up: Ryan loves the pot filler, especially on sauce and pasta days. He also appreciates the island’s utility sink. “They’re both so useful,” he says.

Bay watch: Chelsea adores the sink by the front window. Shellenbarger created a design that extended the countertop depth behind the main sink for a bay window-style space that Chelsea uses for growing flowers and herbs. “It’s the original bay window, but we shortened it and ordered new windows that meet the countertop,” Shellenbarger explains.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

Counter cache: The countertops, from Cambria, are made of quartz. “The Pasqualis wanted clean and simple, so we went with white,” Shellenbarger says. “Quartz won’t scratch or stain.”

Island time: The full-slab island can accommodate six chairs and is just shy of 120 inches long, while the width is 60 inches. It also has a pop-up outlet and utility sink.

Fine finish: The Shakerstyle cabinetry, part of a Medallion line from Midwest Cabinet & Counter Inc. in Madison Heights, features two finishes. The perimeter cabinetry is white paint (Medallion’s Sea Salt) on

maple, while the island cabinets are stained in a shade called Biscotti. “The perimeter cabinets have a double-stacked crown and extend to the ceiling to create a feeling of more height,” Shellenbarger says.

Mix it up: The island hardware is black, while the perimeter cabinetry features gold hardware. A Champagne gold finish for the faucet adds a nice gleam to the space. All faucets and hardware are from Build with Ferguson (build.com).

Light the way: The dark floors were replaced with light flooring. “We love it,” Chelsea says, “especially because we have two dogs and a cat — we’ll always

be a house with animals — and the dark floors showed everything.” Shellenbarger selected a prefinished, allwood style by Duchateau. “It’s a European-style white oak and is on the first and second floors,” she says.

Making dough: The whole family enjoys “pasta days,” when they make it from scratch with an “old-school pasta-maker from Ryan’s dad,” Chelsea says. They typically make one of their favorite traditional family recipes, cappelletti, which is a ring-shaped pasta that resembles a hat (cappello is the Italian word for “hat”). Cooked in a broth, the pasta is filled with meat. Meanwhile, the kids love to play with the pasta dough.

“Mariella will use little cookie cutters and make things like stars,” Chelsea says.

Italian cooking: Ryan takes pride in making a special pasta sauce for friends and family. His secret is to braise short ribs and cook them in the sauce. The couple often refer to a special cookbook, La Cucina di San Marino, from The San Marino Club in Troy. Ryan’s family on his father’s side is originally from San Marino on the Italian Peninsula, and the club holds a special place in the couple’s heart. In fact, the two were married there. The cookbook was created by the club’s women’s auxiliary group and was a gift to the couple from Chelsea’s mother.

“We asked ourselves, how can we create something where people will want to be here?”

—CHELSEA PASQUALI

Designed

by ROBERT STEMPKOWSKI

OUR WRITER TOOK A NEW LOOK AT 11 CLASSIC DETROIT DINING SPOTS

illustrations by HOLLY WALES

The Ambassador Bridge. Boblo Island. Faygo. The Lions, Tigers, Pistons, and Red Wings. There are certain things in this world we’ll always associate with Detroit. Now think restaurants that have defined how Detroiters have chosen to dine out over time.

With that in mind, we’ve pieced together a pantheon of restaurants — beyond our Coney Islands and pizza places that have served this city dutifully and deliciously over decades, so much so that they offer a taste of Detroit as essential as our riverfront skyline and the Motown sound.

The Whitney \ FOUNDED IN 1986

This mansion was built as a proper home for lumber baron David Whitney Jr. at the close of the 1800s, and newspapers of the day called it everything from appropriately palatial to downright pretentious. Go see for yourself what a $400,000 construction cost (in 19th-century money) afforded ole man Whitney. These days (since 1986), The Whitney’s become a special-occasion dining destination, a place to celebrate friends, family, love, and life’s milestone events over hors d’oeuvres and beef Wellington. While you’re there, feast on the opulence: dozens of dining rooms (each with a fireplace, of course), a piano on every floor, Tiffany stained glass, and a grand staircase straight out of the movie Titanic Happily, the only ice I experienced there floated in my beveled cocktail glass. Whether you go for a first-class formal dinner, a weekend high tea (with Champagne), a summer meal with music at the Garden Party, or drinks at the Ghostbar (well, sure, the place is purportedly haunted), a visit to The Whitney is a trip back in time to horse-and-carriage Detroit and a house that stands in testament to the storied and strong-spirited history of our city. 4421 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-8325700; thewhitney.com

Al Ameer Restaurant \ FOUNDED IN 1989

At first, it may appear that your basket of fresh-made pita is overstocked. Once the award-winning Lebanese food starts to arrive and you can’t stop dipping, sopping, scooping, and ultimately scraping your plates clean, you’ll see how the generous bread service made practical sense. And whether you’re walking in or waddling out, please do peruse the many distinguished awards mounted on the foyer walls of Al Ameer’s east Dearborn digs. They’re definitely worth noting, bestowed by the James Beard Foundation, Food & Wine, Food Network, and the United States Congress, just to name a few. And the cuisine warrants every word of commendation and praise it’s been earning since the late ’80s. Sure, Middle Eastern fare is everywhere in the southeast Michigan market. Still, Al Ameer’s kitchen’s flair feels somehow singular — from tender, spit-roasted shawarmas and plump, savory stuffed grape leaves to all the as-God-intended gowiths (the world’s most refreshing tabbouleh and hummus that just seems swept from some higher, creamier cloud). Al Ameer’s more than a signature experience in its category. It heads a class that’s made a metro Detroit restaurant community and culture all the richer for its melting pot membership. Kudos to founding partners Khalil Ammar and Zaki Hashem, who had the foresight to feed us food from where they came from. 12710 West Warren Ave., Dearborn (also located in Dearborn Heights; the Canton restaurant is currently closed); 313-582-8185; alameerrestaurant.com

Giovanni’s Ristorante \ FOUNDED IN 1968

Where Detroit borders south Dearborn, two can’t-miss monuments to Michigan-made entrepreneurship stand: the Ford River Rouge plant property and, right there in its legacy shadow, Giovanni’s, which opened as a humble pizza parlor when Ford Motor Co.’s Mustang was just a few years into its success story. Like the now-iconic car model, this restaurant — redesigned and refined over time — still sets a certain standard for the discriminating consumer in search of finely tuned Italian cuisine and highperformance service. For starters, the steak-cut calamari (in capered lemon beurre blanc) and anchovycharged Caesar salad should take the checkered flag in any competition among their class. Pillowy, ricottafluffed gnocchi might float off plates if not for their swaddling sauce blankets (several choices available), and off-menu features like pistachiocrusted halibut with risotto or a large-block rib eye painted pretty in wine sauce burgundy red offer truly luxe options. Italian food comes in myriad styles and sticker prices. This we know. But for those in the market for something sleek and elegant in that category, everything Giovanni’s serves shimmers like a showroom model. 330 Oakwood, Detroit; 313-8410122; giovannisristorante.com

Golden Fleece \ FOUNDED IN 1970

I’d never dined in Detroit’s longeststanding restaurant in Greektown before leaving Michigan for Arizona in ’83. Thankfully, the fates saw fit to return me home and let me feast in this Balkan bistro’s cozy confines, which were updated in 2021 to add a bar area, a new menu (with vegan and vegetarian options), and a more modern interior design. Destined for deity status on our list, the restaurant has been deemed deserving by generations of devoted downtown diners. Is it a moth-to-flame attraction to onfire food (saganaki) and gregarious Greek service? By the gods, yes. Bravo to the lamb, octopus, souvlaki, calamari, and gyros in all their bright Mediterranean incarnations. And then there’s the ouzo. Opa! Here’s to Golden Fleece, one of our long-treasured traditions in epicureanism, handed down by way of Mount Olympus. 525 Monroe St., Detroit; 313-9627093; goldenfleecedetroit.com

Baker’s Keyboard Lounge \ FOUNDED IN 1934

Do you read music? Follow these notes: Miles Davis. George Benson. John Coltrane. Billie Holiday. Charlie Parker. Les Paul. Nat King Cole. Dizzy Gillespie. Those are just a few of the more noteworthy names of who’s taken the stage at Baker’s — which claims to be the world’s oldest jazz club — over nearly 90 years. Playing no second fiddle to premier performance venues Pine Knob and the Fox Theatre when it comes to booking big-time talent into our town, this cool-cozy little club on the corner of Eight Mile and Livernois has as much to contribute to Detroit’s chapter in the American jazz story as a Ken Burns documentary. Scenes from the 2012 movie Sparkle (starring songstresses Whitney Houston and Jordin Sparks) were shot here. Famed scat man Eddie Jefferson got gunned down outside Baker’s after a set in 1979. Betwixt and between, the likes of Roberta Flack and Earl Klugh, Chick Corea, and Lou Rawls all made the scene here. I hope they had the fried chicken (a headliner on the club’s soul/comfort food menu). Accompanied by soft, silky collards and some for real black-eyed peas, it’s spotlight-worthy, too. These days, the music still plays from 8 to 11 p.m., save for Mondays (comedy night). Head on in. Have a listen and some supper. Be cool. 20510 Livernois, Detroit; 313-345-6300; bakerskeyboardloungedet.com

Joe Muer Seafood \ FOUNDED IN 1929

Detroit’s patron saint of all things seafood, restaurateur Joe Muer departed too soon but left behind a lasting legacy. With his holdings now in the more-than-capable hands of the Joe Vicari Restaurant Group, Muer’s signature victuals and vision sail on. To illustrate, let’s start with the bread service, which in itself might warrant some James Beard Award consideration. Assorted slices from crusty, yeasty loaves and lavash crisps come accompanied by dill-flecked smoked salmon mousse and a bright and bracing great northern bean relish. And that’s just for on-the-house starters. Do yourself a favor from there. Buy a big bowl of lobster bisque. Resist the urge to lick it clean. Maybe distract yourself from that temptation by taking in the panoramic view of the Detroit River and the Windsor waterfront, or by listening to the talented live pianist, who makes the musical score from Disney’s The Little Mermaid sound like Mozart. Once you’re ready to cast your attentions over the main course selections, you’ll see they’ve swum in from everywhere: Great Lakes walleye and whitefish. Georges Bank sea scallops. Scottish salmon (from the Faroe Islands). Mediterranean branzino. Alaska’s treasured king crab. In my heaven, it’ll always smell of butter-basted lobster, just like Joe Muer’s restaurants. And if truly blessed in the hereafter, I’ll be moved in next door to Muer himself and spend eternity accepting his invitations for dinner. Amen. 400 Renaissance Center, Suite 1404, Detroit; 313-567-6837; joemuer.com

Dakota Inn Rathskeller \ FOUNDED IN 1933

This month, Detroit’s beloved German beer hall celebrates its 90th year in business. After its annual July hiatus, an Aug. 2 midday celebration is planned, which will include lively Deutsch music and sing-alongs as well as beer prices from 1933 (which I won’t quote for fear of starting a stampede to the inn). I confess to having been tired and cranky when I popped into the Rathskeller for a Friday night look-see.

Ten minutes later, taken in by the convivial vibe of communal tables filled with stein-swinging customers swaying to pianist Gerry Ferry’s playlist (everything from Oktoberfest fodder to Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline”), I found my second wind — thanks also in part to jovial bartender

Eric’s suggestion that I try a Little Bier: an ice cream sundae-tasting shot of Licor 43 (vanilla liqueur) foamed with a floater of heavy cream. An hour later, after polishing off a classic pretzel and potato pancakes that tasted exactly like the ones my Polish grandmother used to fry up for me, I found myself closing the place and sharing old neighborhood reminiscences with thirdgeneration proprietor

Karl Kurz (his grandfather founded the business), Gerry, Eric, and Katie Priskorn, who also tickles the ivories and leads the chorus at the Rathskeller. That’s just the kind of place this is. Wherever your head’s at when you walk in, you’ll leave feeling the brauhaus love, no doubt. And just to make sure, have one or two of those Little Bier thingies while you’re rubbing elbows.

Prost! 17324 John R Road, Detroit; 313-867-9722; dakota-inn.com

Mon Jin Lau \ FOUNDED IN 1969

“Escape/Enjoy.” That’s what the menu here first suggests on its flap. And for 50-plus years, Detroiters with a yen for Chinese cuisine have taken that advice and made countless pilgrimages to this East Asian food temple in Troy. Talk about good chi. Mon Jin Lau offers all the elements that feed into a restaurantgoer’s sense of well-being. There’s atmosphere: dimly lit dining rooms, a bar twinkling in tea lights, serenity garden-style patios, and sultry mood music. Service is detailed and deftly toes that fine line between pester and neglect. Servers were steaming water spots from wine glasses on the afternoon of my visit, while former and longtime owner Marshall Chin offered pearls of leadership wisdom to the day’s management team. And then there’s the food and beverage part of the equation. What started as a “chop suey restaurant” (as it’s described on its website) has been on the forefront of what the current owners, Bryan and Brandon Chin (founders Jin and Mon Chin’s grandsons and Marshall’s sons), call “Nu-Asian” cuisine for most of its existence. It’s a big, beautiful menu. Give it a good read. If you like how something sounds, you’ll love how it translates to taste. Looking for specific recommendations? The chili pepper calamari is downright ethereal, and the pineapple carrot cake makes for a perfect finish to a meal here. Also of note is the wine list. It’s impressively eclectic and approachable. Mon Jin Lau absolutely proffers the “Escape/Enjoy” experience it promotes. I’ve never tasted better truth in advertising. 1515 E. Maple Road, Troy; 248-689-2332; monjinlau.com

Café Cortina \ FOUNDED IN 1976

Big things were happening in and around Detroit in 1976. Michiganders joined in the celebration of our nation’s bicentennial. A legendary Tiger, Mark “The Bird” Fidrych, came out of nowhere to pitch a season for the ages. And at the site of an old apple orchard in Farmington Hills, the Tonon family planted Café Cortina, an absolute peach of the Italian variety that’s borne its beautiful fruit for all of us ever since. When weather permits, request a table on the gorgeous garden patio. Give in to the serenity of rustling leaves and let the restaurant’s layered and precise service take over. Share some beautifully done bruschetta gilded with fresh-grilled artichoke heart, wilted arugula, and impossibly yet perfectly ripe tomato. Order the tagliatelle Bolognese to remind yourself of how delicate and delectable foodstuffs like handmade pasta and veal are when handled in Italian kitchens helmed by true culinary maestros. Refresh your palate between courses with an intermezzo of raspberry granita. And, by all means, finish with a few precious spoonfuls of fig gelato drizzled with caramel. With its arresting ambiance and warm, blanketing hospitality, Café Cortina makes surrender to a sublime dining experience a simple matter. Just reserve a table, show up, and let the restaurant see to the rest. I sat there being spoiled rotten for some two hours. Never checked my cellphone once. Seriously. Mille grazie, Cortina. 30715 W. 10 Mile Road, Farmington Hills; 248-474-3033; cafecortina.com

London Chop House \ FOUNDED IN 1938

Like Detroit itself, this historic downtown supper club has seen some decidedly up and down decades. Boom times brought accolades (it was named one of the nation’s 10 best restaurants by the James Beard Foundation in 1961) and a high-profile clientele (Henry Ford II, Frank Sinatra, Mickey Mantle and his Yankees friends, et al.). During the ’80s bust, Lee Iacocca team executives nursed drinks there while licking corporate wounds and plotting survival strategies. Then, the storied restaurant’s run seemed to end when it shuttered in 1991. A multimillion-dollar renovation and 2012 reopening now finds London Chop House restored to its former luster. The decor is man cave immaculate; the service immediate, attentive, and polished (kudos, Claire). Believe me when I say that big martinis garnished with blue cheese-stuffed olives taste even better when your butt’s on a cushy, hand-upholstered barstool. Once you sit down to dinner, consider the steak tartare: a pristine presentation for the purist carnivore, at once primal yet refined. If that’s too raw a recommendation, try the French onion soup. The veal stock is as rich as Rockefeller. Whatever your tastes tend toward — red meat or seafood — rest assured, they’ll be more than satisfied here. London Chop House remains a signature steakhouse with all the expected sizzle. The record shows, it took the blows and did it Detroit’s way. Murphy-Telegraph Building, 155 W. Congress St., Detroit; 313-962-0277; thelondonchop.com

Sindbad’s Restaurant and Marina \ FOUNDED IN 1949

Like the lore of the restaurant’s ancient mariner namesake, Sindbad’s story as a riverside Detroit eatery and watering hole lives on. In the hands of its founding family (the Blanckes) since 1949, the restaurant continues to help tell a storied tale of days gone by, when summer speedboat racing drew raucous crowds dockside and a couple of lovable old steamships ferried us time and again to the enchanted island of Boblo. Want to relive a few magical memories that will leave you refreshed and thankful to tears for experiencing life as a Detroiter? Head to Sindbad’s. Have some signature chowder and one of Van’s fresh-fried perch or pickerel sandwiches. Maybe sit at the bar and rub elbows with a cast and crew of longtime, regular customers and decades-tenured staff who are more than happy to spin a few Sindbad yarns for old times’ sake. And at some point, take a walk down to the docks, smelling the freshwater air with every step until you reach the end. Then, look hard to port (left), and you’ll see it: the shell of the SS Ste. Claire (Boblo boat), moored just upriver from the restaurant, in the midst of a long renovation. Just stand there and soak that all in for a few. That’s what Sindbad’s still so graciously offers us these days: not just tastes of what it’s been serving there on the waterfront for 74 years but a whiff of what it means to stay connected to our heritage as Detroiters and the river that runs through our city. 100 St. Clair St., Detroit; 313-822-8000; sindbads.com

Films have the Oscars. Plays have the Tonys. Music has the Grammys. For the food industry, the James Beard Foundation Awards are the ne plus ultra of accolades. It’s a huge honor to have your name submitted during the open call for entry, let alone to become a semifinalist, nominee, or winner.

The James Beard Awards recognize “exceptional talent and achievement in the culinary arts, hospitality, media, and broader food systems, as well as a demonstrated commitment to racial and gender equity, community, sustainability, and a culture in which all can thrive,” the mission statement says.

All categories reflect the foundation’s efforts to change its selection criteria to be more inclusive and more fair to women and people of color. This came about in 2022, after a two-year hiatus, nine months of which was spent on “an internal and external review of policies and procedures, to ensure a more transparent, accessible, and equitable process for future James Beard Awards.” This review was prompted by criticism that the foundation was not doing enough to fight race and gender imbalances in the restaurant industry.

In this feature, we profile 13 culinary professionals from 12 restaurants and one bakery who were selected as semifinalists and nominees for this year’s awards. The cuisine served at their establishments includes classic comfort-food cakes, New American small plates, elevated carryout, innovative takes on fine dining using local ingredients in inspired ways, and Japanese, Moroccan, Burundian, Korean, and Mexican fare styled in exciting ways that reflect the vision and flair — and in many cases heritage — of chefs and operators.

“A James Beard nomination — or, better yet, a win — is a way for restaurants to make it clear that they are earning the respect of their peers,” says Matt Sartwell, managing partner of Kitchen Arts & Letters, a New York City bookstore that specializes in food and drink and has been a resource for food professionals, researchers, and home cooks worldwide for 40 years.

“A Beard nod helps a restaurant in many ways,” adds Sartwell, a three-time James Beard Foundation Book Awards judge and a former Book Awards committee chair. “First and foremost is the immediate impact on reservations when local media — and national media in heavily touristed destinations — acknowledge the nomination or the win. More people dining at the restaurant means more people have a chance to discover what makes it stand out. And it can mean a solid increase in their regular diners. Those people are often the lifeblood of a restaurant that lasts.”

Robin Watson

the of the cream crop

For more on the foundation’s policies and procedures, go to jamesbeard.org/ awards/policies.

By Nicole Frehsee Mazur, Cambrey Thomas, Jack Thomas, and Robin Watson

Photos by Chuk Nowak

Metro Detroit’s 2023 James Beardrecognized chefs and restaurants represent diverse food and hospitality approaches that reflect the foundation’s efforts for inclusivity and change

Emerging Chef: Semifinalist

Growing up in a rural, isolated area in Mexico — one he affectionately calls “the boonies” — Amado Lopez remembers marveling at his grandmother’s ability to coax flavor out of whatever ingredients the family had on hand. “There weren’t a lot of grocery stores around, so everything you grew, you ate,” Lopez says. “I watched my grandmother making vegetables very flavorful.”

Grandma’s lessons paid off: In January, Lopez, the chef-owner behind Berkley’s Casa Amado Taqueria, was recognized as a semifinalist for a James Beard Award in the emerging chef category. His nod comes a year after the James Beard Foundation overhauled its program to feature a more diverse pool of judges and mix of talent, among other tweaks. “I think the changes are amazing,” says Lopez, 41. “It’s great that the American palate is starting to embrace cuisines other than French and Italian. We’re taking away the fancy stuff and showing really good flavors. [The food] might smell or look weird, but it’s very flavorful.”

“I’m super proud of him,” says chef Shawn McClain, whom Lopez worked for in the early aughts, of his award nod. (McClain, a James Beard Award winner, now owns Highlands in Detroit.) “In the restaurant business, we reference the ‘good old days,’ when people were connected to a passion and a time when details and hard work mattered. Amado was always one of those people.”

Open since 2021, Casa Amado (translation: “beloved house”) is known for house-made salsas,

By Nicole Frehsee Mazur

Casa Amado is known for house-made salsas, hot dogs bedazzled with green chilies and jalapenos, and, of course, tacos. From the top, clockwise: chips and guacamole; Sonoran dog; Seema taco (in the paper boat); tacos (from top: chilorio, Mexican bistec, pollo); traditional margarita; mango margarita.

hot dogs bedazzled with green chilies and jalapenos, and, of course, tacos. While the restaurant’s concept is fast-casual, Lopez’s cooking process is not: The tacos are filled with tender, taste bud-tingling hunks of chicken, pork, beef, and veggies, or what he calls “guisados — stew-y things that take a long time to braise and cook.” Says Emilia Juocys, Lopez’s friend and the restaurant’s co-owner, “Amado’s ability to create top-notch food from humble ingredients is outstanding. When you throw in high-end ingredients, it’s next level.”

Amado Lopez G

Lopez’s road from the boonies to the James Beard Awards was twisty. His culinary journey began in Chicago, where he moved as a teen. His high school class took a field trip to Charlie Trotter’s, the acclaimed restaurant run by the eponymous chef, and Lopez was so enthralled that he asked Trotter for a job. He started breaking down boxes and shelving produce, learning “how to spot something if it wasn’t right,” and eventually became a line cook.

Recognizing the young chef’s talent, Trotter told him that he “had to go to culinary school,” recounts Lopez, then in his 20s. “I said, ‘I don’t have money to do it.’ He said, ‘Don’t worry about the money. Just buy yourself a good car.’ I bought a 1981 Toyota Corolla, and … Charlie said, ‘Now you’re going to New York.’” Lopez attended the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park with the help of a scholarship from Trotter’s Culinary Education Foundation.

Post-graduation, Lopez worked with McClain, then a rising star on Chicago’s culinary scene. By that

time, Lopez had his first child, and his wife, Kimberly, urged him to get a corporate gig with health insurance. Instead, he ditched the fine-dining world altogether. “I needed to work in a place where my dad and grandma would feel comfortable and could eat the food they grew up with,” he says.

Lopez’s quest to recreate the flavors of his childhood led to a six-year stint with Rick Bayless, the Michelin-starred Chicago chef and restaurateur known for his modern take on Mexican cuisine. In 2015, Lopez’s family — which by then included four kids — moved to Rochester Hills, near Kimberly’s hometown. After several years as the executive catering chef for Plum Market, he launched a successful consulting business … and then the pandemic hit.

With the restaurant industry crumbling around him, Lopez decided to pursue his dream of opening a taqueria. He and Juocys, a food-industry veteran, started hosting taco-themed pop-ups at Frame in Hazel Park and Atomic Dawg in Berkley before taking over the latter. “Friends and family would come give us a hand,” he says of Casa Amado’s early days. “We survived because of them.”

Culinary accolades aside, Lopez says watching diners of all cultures relish his dishes is a thrill. That includes his dad, who’s traveled from Chicago to eat at the restaurant, and his 90-year-old grandmother, who’s “visited” from Mexico via FaceTime. “They loved it,” he says. “Food is what you connect with, the memories. It brings everybody to the table.”

Casa Amado Taqueria, Berkley

Hajime Sato

By Jack Thomas

Outstanding Chef: Nominee Sozai, Clawson

In early June, a customer told Sozai’s Hajime Sato that his James Beard Award nod was the only reason they were giving his Clawson sushi bar a try. Sato was not a fan of this statement.

“If I wasn’t nominated, you’re not even going to come to my restaurant? That’s kind of rude,” Sato says. “People ultimately don’t give a shit. They just eat because it’s fancy; they don’t care about sustainability.”

Sato creates sushi from sustainably sourced seafood — something he’s been fully committed to since 2009, when he first introduced the model at Mashiko, a Seattle restaurant he started in 1994 and sold to employees in 2019 when he moved to Michigan. In the past, he’s also worked with Oceana, a nonprofit that lobbies for ocean conservation.

He stuck to his guns when he opened Sozai in 2021 at the height of COVID-19 restrictions and supply chain issues, a time when many restaurants shuttered — even without the extra challenge of procuring ethically sourced fish. It was difficult, and he cops to almost closing the place “easily 100 times.” But if he ended Sozai, there would be one fewer sustainable sushi restaurant, and he worried that would make the model look economically unviable.

“I’d feel like I failed,” he says.

Despite Sato’s hidden turmoil, Sozai quickly became one of the most talked about new eateries in metro Detroit. It was the Detroit Free Press’ 2022 Restaurant of the Year; one of Bon Appetit’s 50 best new restaurants in 2022; and now, in 2023, the sole Michigan nominee in the James Beard outstanding chef category.

Since the restaurant’s inception, a big draw has been omakase (Japanese for “I leave it up to you”) — a dining experience in which Sato or one of his chefs creates a meal tailored to the customer on the spot. Even with his decades as a successful restaurant owner and his numerous accolades, there will always be naysayers.

“My parents [say] this is my ‘temp job’ and I should get a real job like being an engineer or being a lawyer or something,” he says, laughing. “This used to be my temp job during college, and I just kept going with it. Life takes you to the places that you never really thought you would go. But whatever is in front of you, … you just take on as much as you can.”

Best Chef, Great Lakes: Semifinalist

El Barzón Restaurante, Detroit

T

The year 2007 was “very, very tough” for chef Norberto Garita and his wife, Silvia. But it was also a time of new beginnings. Norberto left his job at Il Posto, a popular upscale Italian restaurant in Southfield, to pursue uncharted territory — his own Mexican-Italian concept in Southwest Detroit. When he told the other cooks about his plan, they scoffed: “You’re not gonna make it out there. Who’s gonna come to Detroit?”

He and Silvia borrowed money to buy and renovate a vacant doctor’s office on Junction Street, just off Michigan Avenue. He named his new restaurant El Barzón Restaurante, a nod to his agricultural roots — a barzón (yoke ring) is a tool that connects an ox to a plow.

When he moved to New York City from Mexico and started restaurant work at age 15, he “didn’t even know how to cook an egg,” he admits. On his family’s farm in Puebla, Mexico, there was a strict division of labor: Men farmed; women cooked. “They never let us in the kitchen,” he says. Eventually, his mother and sister finally taught him their mole sauce recipe, which he now uses at El Barzón for the mole Poblano. The mole blends cacao, cinnamon, and dried chilies. From start to finish, it takes about a week of preparation, he says.

For the first year of business, the Garitas lost sleep keeping their restaurant open from 9 a.m. to midnight, often to seat only a few tables daily.

On top of that, the Garitas’ eldest son, Bertin, a U.S. Marine, was about to depart for duty (at the beginning of 2007, President Bush initiated “the surge,” committing 20,000 additional troops to Baghdad). The couple closed the restaurant for a week and went to South Carolina to see him off. “Let’s see what will happen when we come back,” Norberto told Silvia.

Norberto Garita

By Jack Thomas

Not long after they returned, word got out about the restaurant, which he credits to favorable coverage from local outlets like the Detroit Metro Times and Hour Detroit. Business suddenly went from a trickle to a steady flow. Affluent customers poured in from the suburbs. Some were followers from Il Posto; some, firsttimers enticed by a menu where Pueblan specialties like goat barbacoa (steamed goat) and various mole dishes shared the page with Italian foods like spaghetti carbonara and strozzapreti. Since then, it’s been hard to eat there without a reservation.

Today, Bertin helps his parents run El Barzón and La Noria Wood-Fired Bistro, which the family opened next door in 2018. Noberto and Silvia have five other children, whom Norberto speaks proudly of. One daughter just graduated from Michigan State University; another takes after her father: She’s currently attending culinary school in Puebla.

As for being named a James Beard Award semifinalist for the second time, Norberto says modestly, “To me it’s an honor, because I’m not a great chef. I tell [my staff] every day: ‘Without you, I’m nothing. And without customers, we’re nothing.’ … I try to do the best I can. I do it from my heart.”

El Barzón Restaurante features a unique combination of traditional Mexican and Italian dishes. From the top center, clockwise: Top Shelf margarita; barbacoa de chivo al horno; red wine; tris di pasta; pineapple mezcalina cocktail; mole Poblano with turkey (normally, it’s made with chicken); and cucumber cilantro margarita.

Michael Ransom

By Jack Thomas

Best Chef, Great Lakes: Semifinalist

Ima Izakaya, Detroit

MMike Ransom was a kid who loved techno. In high school, he and four friends threw dance parties in their hometown, East Lansing. They pooled together money to rent spaces, book DJs, and set up sound. Then in 1997, when Ransom was 19, they opened a record store downtown called Spin Cycle Records. “I wasn’t a very good business owner,” he admits. “It was never a profitable venture, but it was a lot of fun.”

Food and music have always been parallel in Ransom’s mind; he likens dinner service to a

musical performance. “You get a buzz from it — the rhythm of it, the cadence of it; it becomes something that you grow to crave,” he says.

Ransom was born near Traverse City. When he was 6, his parents bought a bus and moved the family to The Farm, a hippie cooperative near Summertown, Tennessee, where his mother studied to be a midwife. Like other Farm residents, Ransom’s parents were vegetarians, and he grew up eating lots of soy (tofu, tempeh, miso), brown rice, dried mushrooms, and seaweed.

In 1999, Ransom moved to Detroit. He continued to pursue a career in music while supporting himself as a line cook. Then, after about a decade of DJing, he noticed something wasn’t right. “I could barely hear the headphones when I was in a loud room,” he says. “I had to make a decision — either I’m going to keep ruining my ears or I need to focus on something else.”

He started taking his day job more seriously. In 2007, he relocated to Chicago and enrolled at Kendall College, where he studied classic French cuisine — he became enamored with the “rustic French discipline” through cookbooks growing up and, eventually, through working in French kitchens.

After graduating from Kendall, he cooked in Chicago, then San Francisco, where he began work as an executive chef for hospitality groups Joie de Vivre and Kimpton. In 2016, he returned to Detroit and opened Ima, a noodle bar in Corktown. The menu featured udon, ramen, pho, and rice bowls, with tons of vegetarian offerings — all for relatively modest prices. It was a departure from the ritzy hotel restaurants he’d been managing.

“Detroit’s a working-class city. And I didn’t feel right coming back and opening a restaurant that most people wouldn’t be able to afford to eat [at],” Ransom says, though he adds that he would love to open a French restaurant one day.

Today, Ransom owns three Ima locations (two in Detroit, one in Madison Heights); SuperCrisp (a sandwich shop); and Summertown Fresh Bar (named for the city near The Farm). For aspiring chefs, the third-time James Beard semifinalist has this advice:

“Learn while you’re working for other people and make mistakes with [their] money. [Ensure you’re] never burning bridges and [that you’re] asking the right questions of your chefs and mentors.”

By Cambrey Thomas

Andy Hollyday

Best Chef, Great Lakes: Nominee Selden Standard, Detroit

Long before the likes of SheWolf Pastificio & Bar or Mad Nice appeared in the lower Cass Corridor, there was Selden Standard. In 2012, the Detroit neighborhood was already anchored with mainstays like The Old Miami and Honest John’s, but an abundance of absentee owners punctuated the area with blocks of undeveloped land and vacant structures. By chance, when the Eastern Market space that Selden Standard co-partners Andy Hollyday (formerly executive chef of Roast) and Evan Hansen were eyeing fell through, they reached out to Susan Mosey, the executive director of Midtown Detroit Inc. At the time, Mosey was leading Midtown Detroit in redeveloping the long-neglected Redmond Plaza and had identified an adjacent dry-cleaning building as cool and well positioned enough to bring new life to the block if renovated. While the Second Avenue location was ideal, the building itself had been empty for years and left to sit.

“I remember my mom gasping when we drove by,” Hollyday says. Like a lot of vacant properties in the neighborhood at that time, the building was boarded up and bombed with graffiti. “A lot of people just thought we were crazy,” he recalls. “But Evan and I felt that people would find us if we carried out our vision as we intended.” Of the early days, Hansen remembers taking a handheld weed whacker around the exterior to dodge blight tickets, ripping out the old floors inside to put in plumbing, and just thinking about what a big project it all was.

When Selden Standard finally opened its doors two years later in 2014, it ushered in a new era of fine dining in the Cass Corridor. Hansen carved out the restaurant’s beverage program, and Hollyday, as executive chef, developed a seasonal menu centered on scratch cooking with produce from Michigan farms and inspiration from across the globe. This approach, and a smattering of high-profile press mentions, drew in diners from all over, some of whom had not been to the Cass Corridor in decades.

“To have a restaurant at that level has contributed to the DNA of the neighborhood,” Mosey says. “I think people began to see again that this part of the city could be revitalized.”

Hollyday received his first James Beard Award nod for best Great Lakes chef in 2015. More semifinalist honors followed in 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2023.

And while this year’s win went to Tim Flores and Genie Kwon of Chicago’s Kasama, 2023 marked Hollyday’s first time as a finalist. “I’m very happy for him,” Hansen says. “I’m also happy — very happy — for our team.” Hollyday shares the same sentiment, calling the nomination a reflection on the entire Selden Standard staff. “My name was on that nomination, but I tell the team when we talk about it that it was every bit a reflection of their hard work.”

The team Hollyday credits is the same group he says stuck by the restaurant during the pandemic. What could have been a dark time for Selden Standard was overcome with the intentional atmosphere of warmth Hollyday and Hansen worked to give their staff. “The most important asset is our team,” Hollyday says, “and without them, we can’t do anything.”

As executive chef at Selden Standard, Hollyday developed a seasonal menu centered on scratch cooking with Michigan produce and inspiration from across the globe. Lemon, capers, and Parmesan give a savory and tangy flavor to the vibrant vegetable carpaccio (bottom). The kale salad (top), tossed in caper dressing, is made with sunflower seeds and pecorino cheese.

“My name was on that nomination, but I tell the team when we talk about it that it was every bit a reflection of their hard work.”

—ANDY HOLLYDAY

T

The gift of an Easy-Bake Oven changed April Anderson’s life when she was about 6 years old.

It sparked a lifelong love of baking and the eventual launch of Good Cakes and Bakes, a 2023 semifinalist in the new “outstanding bakery” category of the James Beard Awards.

A mainstay on Detroit’s Avenue of Fashion, Good Cakes and Bakes gives everyone a chance, hiring those recently released from incarceration and community members in need. The bakery is guided by human and environmentally sustainable principles. Its organic, vegan, gluten-free, and handmade baked goods and soups satisfy diverse needs. Anderson (left) is the head baker, focusing on recipe research and development rather than day-to-day baking. Her wife, Michelle runs the retail and shipping departments.

“Good Cakes and Bakes is more than a bakery,” says Ederique Goudia, co-founder of In the Business of Food, a food-based consulting agency that helps women and people of color build their businesses. “It is and has been a cornerstone of this city since they opened in 2013. April and Michelle Anderson’s commitment to community is a testament to the love, dedication, and true artistry that exist within Detroit. Good Cakes and Bakes serves as the model for what it means to be a community-first business.”

This is not the first time Good Cakes and Bakes has been honored by the James Beard Foundation. In 2018, April was one of 15 professionals invited to attend the foundation’s Chef Bootcamp for Policy and Change. And in 2021, she received a $15,000 grant from its Food and Beverage Investment Fund for Black

Good Cakes and Bakes, Detroit

April + Michelle Anderson

and Indigenous Americans.

With a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Spelman College and an MBA from the University of Michigan, April prepared herself well for entrepreneurial success. She also studied with The Wilton School of Cake Decorating and attended Macomb Community College for pastry arts. Educating others is in her future. She and Michelle are planning to build out a nearby wholesale-production and shipping center that will also serve as a venue for classes and demonstrations.

But what makes April’s success all the sweeter is her ability to rise above challenges that would deflate others. In a 2019 TEDxDetroit video, she sugarcoats nothing, telling of coming out to her conservative, religious family; giving birth while in high school to two sons (the younger of whom was one of her bakers and was murdered in 2016); and being convicted of felony extortion.

How does she feel about the changes the foundation made to its rules and regulations in an effort to be more inclusive?

“The awards were always given to the same people — a white man or white woman backed by a white man,” April says. “Before COVID-19, there was a $150 fee for entering. If you didn’t have the money, you wouldn’t even be at the table. Bringing different people to the judging table really opened opportunities for so many.”

By Robin Watson

Outstanding Bakery: Semifinalist

Best Chef, Great Lakes: Nominee

Saffron De Twah, Detroit

Omar Anani

By Jack Thomas

For chef Omar Anani, 2023 is “all about enjoying the journey and not necessarily the destination,” he says. The chef-owner of Saffron De Twah — an east-side Detroit restaurant that serves up 100 percent halal Moroccan fare with a modern twist — was a James Beard Award finalist for the second year in a row. Of the nomination, he says, “It’s not about me. It’s about the city. It’s about the team. It’s about my parents, who inspired and encouraged me.”

Anani’s family introduced him to the industry at a young age. He started as a dishwasher at the Cleo Café, his parents’ Grand Rapids restaurant, and worked his way up to making pastries and cooking on the line. “The foundations of how to treat your employees and how to treat your community — it all came from [my parents],” Anani says.

At Saffron De Twah, employees (front and back of house) receive at least $15 hourly plus tips, full health benefits, paid time off, and paid maternity leave. He’s also exploring a workerowned model for his business.

Additionally, the Saffron Community Kitchen, which Anani launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, has served over 100,000 meals to Detroiters in need since it opened in 2020.

“We got here by doing what we do — that’s what we’re going to continue to do and not really worry about the accolades,” Anani says. “There are a lot more important things we should be worried about: the community work that we do, our team. Those are the main focuses.”

Sarah Welch

By Cambrey Thomas

Growing up between Ann Arbor and her family’s resort on Jamaica’s South Coast gave Sarah Welch an early immersion into gastronomy. On the island, she saw her peers preparing full meals and experienced them poking fun at her for not doing the same. “It had an influence on my comfort with food, fire, and cooking,” she says. Back at the resort, Welch gravitated toward the kitchen, where she helped make coco bread and break down lobsters.

Best Chef, Great Lakes: Nominee Marrow, Detroit

When it came time for college, Welch enrolled in Michigan State University’s hospitality administration program, thinking she would take over the family business, but realized her real passion was food. After graduating in 2009, she attended New York City’s French Culinary Institute before working as a sous-chef locally at Birmingham’s Forest Grill and Ann Arbor’s Mani Osteria & Bar. But it was when Welch began cooking in Detroit that her trajectory shifted — taking her from an executive chef position at sister restaurants Parks & Rec Diner and Republic in 2015 to Ping Ho’s Marrow in 2017, where she is the executive chef and an equity partner.

Marrow is known as much for its nose-to-tail butcher shop ethos as it is for its perennially favored mushroom dumplings, which Welch says stick around due to diner demand. “I think people get so excited about food, so excited about ingredients, and so excited about technique that they forget about the guests sometimes,” Welch

says. It’s the guest experience the Marrow team prioritizes, working to balance creativity with the comfort and familiarity diners crave. For Welch, this was affirmed early on in a Detroit Free Press review from Mark Kurlyandchik, where she recalls him writing that the West Village spot felt like it had been open for years.

The restaurant quickly gained national recognition for its farm-to-table fare served via Ho’s vision of inclusive sustainability that respects its staff by offering equity, partnering with local farmers, and abiding by Michigan seasonality. And, just two years after opening, it received its first James Beard Award recognition in 2019 as a best new restaurant semifinalist. The recognitions continued in 2020, with Welch receiving a semifinalist nod for best chef in the Great Lakes category.

Earning a nomination for the first time is an honor she says is less about her and more about the collective effort of Marrow. Ho, who is now guiding the restaurant as it expands its meatprocessing operations to Eastern Market with the forthcoming Marrow Detroit Provisions, agrees that Marrow is a collective effort and is proud of Welch. “As executive chef, I think Sarah really drives the vision for Marrow,” Ho says. “She’s one of those rare chefs who can both cook and also understand the economics of a restaurant.”

When considering how the awards changed after a 2021 audit to be more inclusive, Welch — who was the runnerup in Bravo’s Top Chef season 19 in 2022 — remembers when white men dominated the nominee list and believes the changes now give more chefs the recognition they deserve.

“Detroit has nailed it in a way. There’s a lot of representation,” she says.

“Detroit’s nominees are a great cross section of the food available in Detroit.”

The Cherries & Berries salad, made with cherry tomatoes, mixed berries, cucumbers, herbs, burrata, and extra virgin olive oil.

“Detroit’s nominees are a great cross section of the food available in Detroit.”

—SARAH WELCH

Best Chef, Great Lakes: Semifinalist

The popular New Center Detroit destination serving East African food is a James Beard Award semifinalist yet again (the restaurant received its first nod at last year’s awards). Baobab Fare started as a pop-up in 2017, offering traditional Burundian dishes and beverages.

“The community has been supporting us since day one,” says co-owner Hamissi Mamba.

The pop-up proved to be a hit, often selling out its inventory in minutes. Soon, Mamba and his wife, Nadia Nijimbere, secured funding for a fullservice eatery on Woodward Avenue, which opened in early 2021. Now, they’re designing a

By Jack Thomas

second location, planned to be in East English Village and hopefully ready for business next summer, Mamba says.

The couple are refugees who fled Burundi, fearing persecution due to Nijimbere’s human rights activism. Mamba says this much about starting a restaurant: “It’s not easy. But it’s possible.”

The James Beard recognition wasn’t the only win for Baobob Fare this year — Mamba took home the $10,000 prize on an episode of Food Network’s Chopped that aired this past February.

Half his prize money went toward kitchen repairs at Freedom House Detroit, a nonprofit that

housed Nijimbere for two years following her arrival in the States. The other half went to Burundi Kids, an organization supporting health and education initiatives in Burundi.

Baobab Fare’s signature dishes include mbuzi, a slow-roasted goat shank, and kuku, pan-fried chicken thigh in mustard sauce with caramelized onions. For dessert, try mandazi, cardamomspiced donuts, or tamu, passion fruit-infused pudding topped with chia seeds. Customers can also buy select products on the company’s website, including Ji (passion fruit juice), Pili (hot sauce), and Burundian coffee beans.

Hamissi Mamba + Nadia Nijimbere T

Baobab Fare, Detroit

Best Chef, Great Lakes: Semifinalist Miss Kim, Ann Arbor

Ji Hye Kim

Third-time James Beard Award semifinalist Ji Hye Kim didn’t always want to be a chef — she once dreamed of working for a nonprofit, or a law firm, or managing a political campaign. At the University of Michigan, she waited tables to help pay for her schooling. When she graduated in 2002, she was low on money and her status as an international student ended, limiting her work options.

She canceled plans to attend law school and took a job as an accountant, processing payments to a New Jersey hospital from patients and insurance companies. The pay was decent, and the company promised to sponsor her green card, she says.

“Up until that point, I felt like I was being chased, … by bills, … by tuition, … by immigration status,” she says. “I had room to think about what it is that I want to do, instead of what it is that I have to do to survive.”

And what she wanted to do, she realized, didn’t involve working in the American health care industry.

“People come in [for a procedure] that their insurance company denies for some esoteric reason, and they’re suddenly in debt for tens of thousands of dollars,” she says. “I’m from Korea, where there’s universal health care. … Private insurance is not great.”

At the end of her contract with the hospital in 2007, Kim moved back to Ann Arbor and took a job at Zingerman’s Delicatessen. This year marks her 15th with the company — her restaurant, Miss Kim, which opened in 2016, is part of the Zingerman’s Community of Businesses. The Kerrytown eatery marries Korean staples like bibimbap, tteokbokki, and kimchi with fresh Michigan ingredients.

Full-time staff at her restaurant receive health benefits, something she says all employers should provide, “bottom line.” She’s also spoken out publicly about her support of a $15 minimum wage. She’s vocal on these issues, she says, “because I’ve lived these things as a worker myself. I used to be a line cook. … I used to be the server that sat in a dining room because I was the one asked to stay on a snowy day and nobody comes in. … When I speak up, I don’t really feel like I’m speaking up for other people. I’m speaking for my own experience.”

By Jack Thomas

Sandy Levine

By Robin Watson

Outstanding Restaurateur: Semifinalist Freya, Chartreuse, and The Oakland, Detroit

When Sandy Levine was 11 years old, he asked his stepmom — who co-owned the Stage Deli in West Bloomfield — to buy him a pricey Hard Rock Cafe jacket he wanted. Instead, she suggested that he earn the money himself by washing dishes at the deli on Saturday nights. He earned enough to buy the jacket and a bigger payoff.

“I really fell in love with restaurant culture,” Levine says. “People took me under their wing and showed me how restaurants work.”

Even while pursuing a psychology degree at Kalamazoo College, he waited tables at various restaurants, including Champps Americana in Troy, where he eventually met his wife. These early experiences shaped his approach to hospitality.

One particular influence on Levine’s career was his time working at Davio’s, a northern Italian steakhouse in Philadelphia. “The general manager, Ettore Ceraso, was, hands down, the best hospitality person I’ve ever worked for.”

In 2006, the award-winning modernist restaurant Alinea in Chicago helped him create an extraordinary experience for proposing to his wife. It made him realize he wanted to create something of his own that would fulfill the same role for other people.

He did. This year, Levine, 46, was named a semifinalist in the James Beard Foundation’s outstanding restaurateur category for three of his restaurants: Freya (2021), with modernized and welcoming fine dining; Chartreuse Kitchen & Cocktails (2015), a farm-to-table restaurant with bright, fresh, and vibrant food and service; and The Oakland (2011), a friendly neighborhood craft cocktail lounge.

Levine earned his semifinalist nod by demonstrating the criteria for this category: excellence in cuisine, creativity in entrepreneurship, integrity in restaurant operations, and efforts to create a sustainable work culture while contributing positively to the broader community.

“Historically, restaurants are very tough places to work in, often with some rough personalities,” Levine says. “I have a reputation for being a good boss, which, again, I attribute to the time I spent with Ettore, as well as the fact that I’ve spent time in almost all restaurant stations.”

Levine is passionate about training front-of-the-house staff. “I keep coming back to this: Care more. Care more about the staff. And, if you care more than the guests expect you to, you’ll always come in above their standards.”

Doug Hewitt, Levine’s business partner and the chef at Freya, Dragonfly (2021), and Chartreuse, applauds the approach. “What makes Sandy so deserving is his care for the people in his seats and the people who work under his umbrella.”

Freya’s general manager, Thor Jones, agrees. “I consider Sandy a friend, a mentor, and one of my biggest inspirations in our profession. He genuinely cares about people.”

What’s next for the Ferndale resident?

“Our focus is on strengthening our foundation and providing the best experiences for our guests and staff,” Levine says. “I’ve already completed most of my long-term goals for personal achievement. I want to help facilitate as many careers in hospitality and restaurants and make as much of a positive impact as possible.”

By the way, he still has that Hard Rock jacket, and he still washes dishes at home.

Levine poses with Freya chef Phoebe Zimmerman, who created the dishes pictured on page 55.

Freya has a menu that rotates nearly weekly. Large plate: carrots from Second Spring Farm with mint, pistachio, pesto, parsnip, squash, and chive cake. Medium dish: short rib agnolotti made with corn butter, short rib ragu, lemon zest, ubriaco cheese, and blueberries. Small plate: bigeye tuna and hamachi with English peas, lemongrass, shallot, chilies, herbs, and quinoa.

“Historically, restaurants are very tough places to work in, often with some rough personalities.”

—SANDY LEVINE

FIND

THE FACES OF:

AESTHETICS .............................................57

ADVANCED DENTISTRY ...........................58

BEAUTIFUL BROWS ..................................59

AESTHETIC SURGERY ..............................60

APPAREL FOR PET PEOPLE .....................61

BRACES ......................................................62

CANNABIS BUSINESS ..............................63

CONTEMPORARY LUXURY HOMES .......64

COSMETIC SURGERY ...............................65

COTS...........................................................66

ELEVATED & TIMELESS INTERIOR DESIGN ..67

EYELID SURGERY .....................................68

CROWNS SAME DAY ................................69

GREAT LAKES TRUCKING .......................70

GROSSE POINTE REAL ESTATE ...............71

HEALTH INSURANCE – MEDICARE PRO ....72

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT .................73

LINGERIE ....................................................74

LOVING YOUR SMILE ................................75

ENDURING AND HANDCRAFTED

WINDOW COVERINGS ..................................76

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE DEFENSE ........77

MICHIGAN LUXURY REAL ESTATE ..........78

MORTGAGE BANKING ................................79

NORTHERN MICHIGAN REAL ESTATE .....80

ORTHOPEDIC EXCELLENCE......................81

PERIODONTICS ...........................................82

PLASTIC SURGERY ....................................83

REAL ESTATE EXCELLENCE .....................84

CANNABIS RENEWAL .................................85

MICHIGAN’S #1 REALTOR.........................86

RESTORATION .............................................87

YOMI ROBOTICS DENTAL IMPLANTS ......88

Complexion Spa is an avant-garde establishment combining medical expertise with the art of beauty. It’s spearheaded by a team of highly-skilled client liaisons, licensed aestheticians, registered nurses, and a medically board-certified physician. Their comprehensive range of cutting-edge services includes an array of aesthetic and wellness treatments such as injectables, facials, body-sculpting, lasers, drip therapy, luxury tanning, and professional teeth-whitening. Complexion Spa adopts a therapeutically integrated approach

to addressing the underlying causes of your health and beauty concerns, and their team is committed to delivering exceptional results while accentuating and safeguarding your inherent beauty. Client care, comfort, trust, and satisfaction are of paramount importance to Complexion Spa, as their unwavering commitment has garnered prestigious accolades and national recognition. They’ve been honored with the esteemed “Black Diamond Icon” distinction by The Hydrafacial® Co. and named among the top 5 percent of VI Peel service providers in the country by ©VI Aesthetics.

THE

FACES OF

ADVANCED DENTISTRY

Committed to helping their patients achieve and maintain healthy and confident smiles, Dr. Aziza Askari and Dr. Robert Guindi devote themselves to providing dentistry that’s effective, tailored, and quality-focused.

Dr. Askari delivers a wide range of general dentistry services, ranging from dental implants and cosmetic procedures to sleep apnea and TMJ treatments. She’s meticulous about helping her patients optimize and love their smile, and is renowned for her ability to put people of all ages and oral

health conditions at ease.

Dr. Guindi, a skilled dentist with more than 38 years of experience in the field, received his D.D.S. from the University of Detroit in 1985. He brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the practice, and devotes himself to helping patients achieve their healthiest, most confident smiles by providing care that puts their comfort first.

Whatever your family’s oral health needs, this multidisciplinary team is here to help!

THE FACE OF BEAUTIFUL BROWS

KRISTINA SIMONY — KIKI’S BROW STUDIO

41700 HAYES ROAD, SUITE C, CLINTON TWP., MI 48038 586-200-4496 | KIKISBROWSTUDIO.COM

Suppose you have started looking in the mirror and the eyebrows staring back at you are not what you wish for. In that case you may have started thinking through potential options available to reinvigorate your brows.

Kiki has artistic and natural ability to design and create beautiful brows. She holds true to a Kobe Bryant mentality that says, “If you really want to be great at something, you have to truly care about it. If you want to be great in a particular area, you have to obsess over it.” She has vision, visualization and a unique style that makes her different from other artists.

Beautiful Brows Are Waiting For You!

Dr. Mune Gowda, F.A.C.S., is a best-in-class, board-certified plastic surgeon and a leader in the field of rhinoplasty, with expertise in preservation techniques and Piezo technology. His dedication to preserving the natural structures of the nose while achieving stunning results has made him a sought-after specialist in the field.

For qualified patients, Dr. Gowda utilizes the precise and gentlenatured Piezo technology, which ensures minimal trauma during surgery — resulting in faster healing times and enhanced patient

satisfaction. Dr. Gowda’s meticulous approach, combined with his artistic vision, has earned him a reputation for creating naturallooking, harmonious, and beautifully proportioned noses.

Dr. Gowda has earned numerous awards and honors for his surgical excellence. He primarily operates in his certified, state-of-the-art surgical center located inside his Novi office in the Ascension Providence Hospital Medical Building. His inoffice surgical facilities are fully accredited and equipped with the highest-quality technologies and equipment.

Founded in 2019 by Temeria Heard, Swaggles is a Detroitb orn brand that offers unique paw-branded apparel and accessories for “pawrents” a nd their pets.

Swaggles recently added custom embroidery and a cat paw in addition to the traditional dog paw. Each month, Swaggles donates a percentage of profits to anti-cruelty and animal abuse causes. Its core mission is to support organizations that are dedicated to animal rescue.

The Swaggles team believes it is important for all animals

to receive the compassion and protection needed for their overall health. Because the team believes so much in their brand, Swaggles trademarked its paw image and the following words with its three designs: “Compassion,” “Protect,” and “Detroit.” Its tagline is “The Paw Is the Brand.”

Please join Swaggles’ efforts in supporting organizations that rescue animals across the world. Your purchase helps support its mission. Put some wag in your swag and visit swaggles.com today!

THE FACE OF BRACES

DR. HADI DAIA — DAIA ORTHODONTICS & TMJ ORTHOPEDICS

930 W. AVON ROAD, SUITE 16, ROCHESTER HILLS, MI 48307 248-652-1244 | DAIAORTHO.COM

“A healthy, beautiful smile can change a life,” says Dr. Hadi Daia, an acclaimed orthodontist, a fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada, a diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, and a member of the American Board of Orofacial Pain.

Dr. Daia’s state-of-the-art facility, Daia Orthodontics & TMJ Orthopedics, provides comprehensive, personalized treatments for each patient. It offers orthodontic treatment options including braces and Invisalign clear aligners, and Dr. Daia confidently manages complex cases with other medical and dental specialists.

Daia Orthodontics & TMJ Orthopedics is more than just an orthodontic clinic. As one of the few doctors with specialized training in orofacial pain and TMJ treatments in Michigan, Dr. Daia carefully considers the neuromuscular complexities of the head, neck, and jaws to deliver a beautiful, functional, pain-free bite utilizing cutting-edge technologies. This unique marriage of expertise offers the community advanced treatment solutions involving orthodontics and TMJ orthopedics.

Mark Savaya is the visionary behind Leaf and Bud, an indoor cannabis-growing and processing company based in Detroit. With a passion for horticulture and a deep understanding of the cannabis industry, Savaya has established Leaf and Bud as a leader in the field. His brand-label cannabis, called the Mark Savaya Collection, features a hybrid strain that’s exclusively available at Leaf and Bud, a growing chain of centers offering medical and recreational cannabis in the Michigan area. Products include edibles, concentrates, topicals, oils, and more.

Through innovative cultivation techniques and state-ofthe-art technology, Leaf and Bud produces high-quality cannabis products. Savaya’s commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility is reflected in the company’s energy-efficient operations.

Leaf and Bud’s success has earned the company recognition, and it’s been featured in various publications. The company’s growing and processing facility was also covered in local news, further solidifying Leaf and Bud’s presence in the cannabis market.

Nosan Signature Homes has grown out of decades of successful home-building projects. Their team is dedicated to simplifying the site-selection, home-buying, and building processes, and they do whatever it takes to ensure you have a 5-star client experience. NSH understands you want your home to reflect your personal style and taste, but they realize you can also feel overwhelmed by the building process. Their team will work alongside you, making building your new home as seamless as possible.

NSH brings you together with top design professionals and the best subcontractors and suppliers. The result is high-quality construction and your complete satisfaction. Nosan Signatures Homes’ attention to your needs, design, craftsmanship, schedule, and budget guarantees the flawless execution of your project. Years of experience have increased their expertise and ability to achieve practical, cost-effective solutions to construction and design challenges, and to successfully integrate state-of-the-art systems into your new home.

Dr. Mariam Awada is proud to be known as the go-to plastic surgeon for the most discerning patients who are considering cosmetic surgery.

She’s renowned for her expertise in delivering stunning, natural-looking results with the utmost safety. For the past 20 years at Michigan Cosmetic Surgery, Dr. Awada has implemented the most advanced technology, cutting-edge techniques, and regenerative medicine treatments, and she’s famous for her Mommy Makeovers.

Dr. Awada routinely addresses patient cosmetic surgery

inquiries and concerns about her clinic’s amazing face- and neck-lifts, eyelid surgery, nose-shaping, breast augmentation and lifts, tummy tucks, body-sculpting, and the most advanced nonsurgical options for beauty enhancements. Also known as Dr. Beauty, she offers the most advanced nonsurgical laser and regenerative treatments.

Dr. Awada creates a treatment plan for each patient that aligns with their aesthetic goals and values. Schedule a consultation today and experience the difference of five-star, personalized, world-class care, and world-famous results.

COTS empowers families in poverty to collaborate, thrive, and succeed in building strong households, neighborhoods, and communities. COTS offers various programs and services to assist more than 1,000 individuals daily — 60% of whom are children.

COTS programs include emergency shelter for families, supportive and affordable housing, children's services, and more.

COTS exists to disrupt poverty and is proud to be the first EMPath Certified Mobility Mentoring® Practitioner Organization. Their Passport To Self-Sufficiency™ assists families in

establishing and reaching their housing, economic, health, education, and career goals as they overcome homelessness and break the cycle of poverty for themselves, the next generation, and beyond.

COTS has been a staple in Detroit for more than 40 years. Led by CEO Cheryl P. Johnson, COTS executive and directorial teams lead the organization and stakeholders in intentional partnership, mentorship, and relationship to create opportunities for everyone connected to the agency to succeed.

THE

FACE OF ELEVATED & TIMELESS INTERIOR DESIGN

BRI THIEDE — COZY HAUS DESIGNS

BIRMINGHAM, MI 48009 | 615-598-5515 | COZYHAUSDESIGNS.COM

Having grown up in the Nashville, Tennessee, area, Cozy Haus Designs owner Bri Thiede has always loved Southern hospitality and strives to bring approachable elements into every home. “I want my clients to have a luxury experience, while still designing a space they can actually live in,” Thiede shares. “Overly formal rooms with sofas that cannot be used are a thing of the past. We want to capture our clients’ desires and create an aesthetic for their family and guests

to enjoy for years to come.”

Cozy Haus Designs strives to provide elevated and timeless interior design through a thoughtful process. The metro Detroit-based firm handles every aspect of the design project, from the renovations all the way to furnishing the finished product. The Cozy Haus team is devoted to making it easy to have the home of your dreams. To schedule a consultation or learn more, visit cozyhausdesigns.com.

The physicians at Consultants in Ophthalmic & Facial Plastic Surgery — Drs. Nesi, Gladstone, Black, Nesi-Eloff, Schlachter, and Beaulieu, and physician assistant Lindsay El-Awadi — are proud to be known as the “Eyelid Experts.” Representing the gold standard in eye plastic surgery, these doctors have developed and improved techniques to provide the results patients seek when it comes to plastic surgery in the delicate areas around the eyes and forehead. Their advanced training, together with the personal care

and attention provided to patients, is obvious from your first visit.

Outstanding results, faster healing, long-lasting benefits, and happy patients are what the team strives to achieve. They offer upper and lower eyelid surgery and the removal of eyelid “bags.” State-of-the-art endoscopic brow- and forehead-lift procedures accomplish the rejuvenation many patients can’t get from eyelid surgery alone. When you choose the Eyelid Experts, you’ll “see” the difference!

Cerec Technology is a CAD system that can make a patient’s crown or cap in the same visit — meaning there’s no need for messy impressions or painful temporaries that don’t stay in place. Dr. Dolores J. Baran has been successfully using this technology for more than 15 years. “Dedicated,” “innovative,” and “astute” are words patients have used to describe Dr. Baran.

A graduate of the University of Michigan School of

Dentistry, Dr. Baran and her team perform most dental procedures in the office, including root canals, dental implant placement and restoration, and the removal of wisdom teeth. Dr Baran, who is well known for her cosmetic work (such as veneers and invisible braces) has been having success with treating patients who have migraine headaches with Botox.

Call today to schedule a consultation appointment.

Liliya Skikun is the founder and president of Great Lakes Trucking MI. Skikun started the company 10 years ago with a vision in mind to competitively haul automotive parts out of the Detroit area. Since Great Lakes Trucking MI is a woman-owned company, Skikun strives to give young women an opportunity to prove themselves within the trucking industry. This has proved itself to be a good fit for the company. Skikun has grown her company into five

different corporations. She works hard at balancing a family and her businesses, and she is an exceptional example not only for young women but for people of every gender and nationality of what success in America can be. She s ays all you have to do is whatever it takes to succeed. She passionately believes that success comes from being gracious and helpful, by giving and taking opportunities when they present themselves.

Higbie Maxon Agney is an independently owned agency that’s committed to providing luxury service by offering an unparalleled level of support to every client. For 90 years, as Grosse Pointe’s premier real estate company, its knowledgeable team has developed a reputation for extraordinary assistance that ensures successful real estate transactions.

HMA is skilled at selling all types of property — from lakefront homes to modern ranches, family homes, historic estates, and vacant land. The company guarantees you’ll be treated

to an experienced, informative, and personalized approach to buying or selling a home.

As the leader in luxury and your trusted real estate partner, HMA can help you discover the home and community that’s right for you. After all, its specialty is matching people and houses. Luxury is an experience, not a price tag.

Pictured from left to right are 2022’s Top Producers: Caitlin Kashef, Paula Draper, Kay Agney, Jaime Rae Turnbull, and Melissa Dagher-Singh.

Lee Pantely, founder of Health Insurance – Medicare Pro is a licensed agent dedicated to providing expert advice to individuals, families, and groups when choosing Medicare or health and life insurance. After 30 years in the business, he understands how the health care system works. He has back-door access to all of the major carriers, and will make the process easy.

Health and wellness are major concerns for everyone, and

it’s critical to have access to the very best plans and providers. Pantely will explain the differences in the various plans, and guide you to choose and apply for an option that’s perfect for you. He’ll also pair you with riders for dental, vision, and longterm care, to ensure you and your loved ones are well covered. Whether you’re turning 65 and eligible for Medicare, or need a quality health plan or life insurance, Pantely is the expert at maximizing your benefits. Call today!

Greystone Financial Group offers dynamic solutions to individuals and employer retirement plans, to help their clients thrive at every stage of life. The firm believes everyone should be able to live life to the fullest, without worrying about managing their finances.

“Next to maintaining good health, money is probably second on most people’s list of priorities, and the trust clients place in us is a responsibility that Greystone takes very seriously,” says Todd R. Moss, managing partner.

Every individual and company is unique, which is why Greystone believes financial plans should be personally tailored to each client. In contrast to today’s unfortunate reality of minimal customer service, Greystone offers a level of personalized care that’s assuring and empowering.

“I love what I do because I love people,” says Kristie L. Guadiano, partner. “Many of my clients become like family. We connect in ways that go beyond managing investments or retirement plans.”

A customized fit and extraordinary lingerie are the secrets to a happy customer. The granddaughters of Betty Harp, founder of Harp’s Lingerie — Lisa Hardy Hamill and Kim Hickson — know that what you wear underneath your outfit is just as important as the clothes themselves.

Lingerie determines your silhouette and your comfort, ensuring you’ll look and feel your best. At Harp’s Lingerie, you’re showered with excellent customer service and fit perfectly for

undergarments that will accentuate your figure. Harp’s carries a wide variety of intimate apparel for your everyday, bridal, and special occasion needs.

Hard-to-fit sizes are Harp’s specialty; they carry band sizes 32-54 and cup sizes AA-N. Experience the Harp’s difference and see why, for more than 75 years, they’ve earned the loyalty of generations of customers. Harp’s strives to make everyone feel beautiful and special when they walk out the door, just as Mrs. Harp did so well.

The Simony Dental Group is one of the most highly recommended dental offices in the Detroit metropolitan area. Dr. Michael Simony attributes that to the kind and intelligent culture of the office he’s created and nurtured. His team truly is caring and deeply interested in helping each patient, and Dr. Simony says that makes his patients feel comforted.

The Simony Dental Group has a high technical capability, and Dr. Simony performs every dental specialty himself. His

knowledge, technical skill, and awareness speak loud and strong. His smile transformations are examples of his thorough understanding of artistry and anatomy. In a true poetic statement, he says: “The lips are the curtains to the stage!”

Dr. Simony was recently overjoyed to welcome his son, Dr. Marco Simony, to the practice. “With this new visionary artist on board, there will be no stopping you from loving your smile,” he says.

Mariella’s was founded in 1982 by Mariella Trentacoste and it isn’t just a business — it’s a testament to the artistry and dedication of its founder. Today, Mariella’s daughter, Mary Grace Dickson, is carrying forward the torch of her mother’s commitment to perfection. Whether collaborating

made options.

“Our mission is to seamlessly bring our clients’ visions to life, relieving them of the hassle and stress, while delivering exceptional value,” Dickson says. To schedule a consultation or learn more, visit mariellascustomdrapery.com.

From a young age, Cullen McKinney knew he wanted to be part of the health care system. He looked to doctors and health care professionals as heroes. His father had multiple medical conditions, and McKinnney was awestruck by the medical professionals who provided his father’s care and treatment. He intended to become a doctor, and help the community the way they had helped his family.

Midway through his pre-medical training at Michigan State University, McKinney decided he could best serve

as a legal representative for the medical community, defending health care heroes. That has become the motto of his firm, Tanoury, Nauts, McKinney & Dwaihy: Defending Health Care Heroes.

For the past 29 years, McKinney has focused his practice on the legal defense of claims brought against doctors and other medical professionals, providing them with an aggressive defense to claims that have been alleged, and counseling them on navigating the medical/legal process.

Renee Lossia-Acho and Tushar Vakhariya, with combined experience as top producing brokers of over 40 years, have teamed up to transform the real estate experience. They have brought their expertise and resources together to provide an unparalleled level of service and results to their clients. With united strengths, Lossia-Acho and Vakhariya offer their clients a wider range of properties to choose from, access to exclusive listings, and a larger network of buyers and sellers.

This unique competitive edge sets them apart from the competition and ultimately provides their clients with the best possible outcome. The TVA+RLA team continues to break records for highest sales volume in the state year after year. Backed by an unmatched team, Lossia-Acho and Vakhariya use their collective knowledge to stay ahead of the curve and continue to provide their clients with the insight and strategies they need to succeed in any market.

Since 1992, Capital Mortgage Funding has been a leader in Michigan’s mortgage banking industry. Led by Harry Glanz and Dan Burke, two of the state’s most well-respected mortgage banking luminaries, the company is driven by a simple but effective philosophy.

“We’re a relationship-driven organization; our focus is on our clients’ experience and making the process as smooth as possible,” explains Glanz — who, like Burke, brings more than 34 years of experience to the business. “We have some of the most experi-

enced mortgage bankers, and we’re proud of our award-winning mortgage team and state-of-the-art process, which customizes and efficiently completes the right mortgage for each client.”

CMF specializes in residential loans, and is proudly celebrating its 31st anniversary in 2023. Capital Mortgage Funding is powered by Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp. NMLS No. 2289. Equal housing opportunity. Harry Glanz, president/co-founder, NMLS No. 61034. Dan Burke, vice president/area manager/ co-founder, NMLS No. 61101.

For more than 24 years, Pat Leavy has been helping families create memories in northern Michigan. With boundless energy, perseverance, and a great staff, he’s been the No. 1 agent in northern Michigan for the past 13 years, with over $380 million sold in the last three years.

Leavy doesn’t just show houses; he introduces clients to the sandiest waterfront, the cottage on Walloon Lake with a storied history, his secret morel hunting ground, or his favorite bartender.

He believes a home Up North is a lifestyle, not just a house. If your objective is to sell your property, Leavy has attained the leading position as the Realtor of choice for top properties in Petoskey, Bay Harbor, Walloon Lake, Charlevoix, Harbor Springs, and Boyne City. Whether you’re looking for a home Up North or selling a property, begin your conversation with Pat Leavy, a true expert in northern Michigan real estate.

Superior outcomes, proven results, and a world-class team that cares about each and every patient. That’s what makes The CORE Institute one of Michigan’s leading orthopedic practices and why they have five stars – The Physician Alliance’s top rating.

The CORE Institute was founded to deliver the best in orthopedic and spine care, and built upon a foundation of pioneering research, academics, and community service. Today, it is one of the premier destinations for musculoskeletal care in the world. The CORE Institute has a vision of excellence in patient care, which is why

patients choose them when they want to Keep Life In Motion®.

The physicians at The CORE Institute are recognized nationally as leaders in specialties ranging from total joint replacement to sports medicine, spine care, pain management, and rehabilitation. They offer the latest surgical and non-surgical treatments and create an individualized treatment plan for each patient based on their unique lifestyle and needs.

With locations in Novi, Brighton and Southfield, high-quality care is never far from home.

Dr. Joseph Nemeth, a world-renowned periodontist, has served the metro Detroit area for over 30 years. His practice was the first in Michigan to treat gum disease using laser technology, and he was the first periodontist in the world certified in the pinhole technique, a minimally invasive treatment for gum recession. As a scholar and passionate educator, Dr. Nemeth has been extensively featured for his dental expertise on TV, radio, and YouTube.

Dr. Amar Katranji specializes in dental implants, advanced bone grafting, and full-arch restoration. He uses advanced

surgical techniques and technology to help his patients achieve the best possible oral health, earning a reputation as one of the area’s leading experts in handling complex dental implant cases.

Services at Nemeth & Katranji Periodontics include less invasive treatment options for gum disease and gum recession, cosmetic smile procedures, bad breath treatment, and dental implants. For more information, visit drnemeth.com.

Your health and beauty are in trusted hands when you choose Dr. Elan Reisin, M.D., F.A.C.S., and his team of surgeons at Star Plastic Surgery in Novi. A multiyear Hour Detroit Top Doc honoree, he’s board-certified in plastic and reconstructive surgery, and has received numerous national awards. Dr. Reisin, who serves as medical director at Star, and his team have completed more than 20,000 cosmetic surgeries.

Dr. Reisin spent five years as an attending physician, and

taught surgical residents at the prestigious Georgetown University Hospital Department of Plastic Surgery before creating Star Plastic Surgery, a pre-eminent, state-ofthe-art AAAHC surgical center and medical spa. He’s a member of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and has traveled internationally to learn from top plastic surgeons, while also partaking in philanthropic trips to treat children with congenital and traumatic deformities in the Dominican Republic.

Cindy Kahn has been a prominent figure in the industry for 18 years. Specializing in southeast Michigan’s finest residential properties, she’s recognized as the No. 2 agent in the state by RealTrends and The Wall Street Journal.

Kahn’s success thrives on her extensive network, including fellow agents, area professionals, and valuable referrals. Clients highly appreciate her unwavering work ethic, tenacity, and local expertise. Sharing in her commitment to her clients are Emily

Kahn, Kahn’s daughter, who brings a fresh approach and her own business, as well as Elaina Ryder, known for her integrity and professionalism.

Although an expert in luxury properties, Kahn remains devoted to serving buyers and sellers at every level. This unwavering commitment earned her the prestigious title of The Agency Hall & Hunter’s Top Producer for six consecutive years (2016-2022) and placing her in the top 1% of Realtors nationwide.

LIV Cannabis Co. is proud to be a community-forward cannabis company. The LIV Cannabis team is committed to connecting people through cannabis while creating memorable experiences that organically enhance people’s lives.

LIV Cannabis provides high-level customer service through its compassionate, knowledgeable guest advisers, who strive to exceed guests’ expectations.

While offering quality products at competitive prices, LIV

Cannabis takes pride in its inclusivity, proven accessibility, continued education, and overall cannabis care culture. Choose to LIV! #LIVCannaCo.

Whether you want to shop in store, utilize free delivery, or pick up your order curbside, it’s LIV Cannabis’ pleasure to help you LIV! Visit LIV locations in Detroit, Ferndale, Grand Rapids, Lake Orion, Lansing, and soon Westland.

THE FACES OF MICHIGAN’S #1 REALTOR

Kathy Broock, a highly accomplished Michigan real estate professional, has earned a stellar reputation due to her exceptional track record and personal connections. Her motto is “every day starts at zero.” With deep roots in the industry and a multigenerational business background, Broock’s leadership inspires trust and fosters lasting relationships. She’s surrounded herself with a talented and diverse group of women who excel in collaboration — including Associate Broker Helen Reasoner, who’s been

dedicated to the team for over 15 years.

KB & Co. creatively builds a custom strategy for each client, delivering an exceptional “Gold Standard” experience. “Our objective is to do what we do best, even better,” Broock says. As she continues her family’s legacy, her unique blend of tradition and innovation establishes her as a formidable presence in real estate. Broock’s journey continues to soar, and her unparalleled success is sure to inspire the next generation of professionals.

THE FACE OF RESTORATION

An accomplished plastic surgeon, Dr. Ellen Janetzke offers the most current surgical and nonsurgical options so you can look your very best.

Dr. Ellen is one of few female surgeons specializing in breast and abdominal surgeries. Breast augmentations, breast lifts, and breast reductions enhance the appearance of the breast, while breast reconstruction restores a feminine profile. Women who want to improve their figure post-pregnancy often

come to Dr. Ellen for a Mommy Makeover — a customized series of surgical techniques addressing the abdominal area and the breasts. Tummy tucks and liposuction appeal to both women and men who want an aesthetically pleasing body shape. Dr. Ellen also performs male breast reduction for those with gynecomastia. Prior to performing any cosmetic treatment, Dr. Ellen and her qualified staff will thoroughly explain the procedure. Their skills ensure exceptional results.

ELLEN A. JANETZKE, M.D., PC 60 W. BIG BEAVER ROAD, SUITE 100, BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI 48304 | 248-220-6760 | DRELLEN.COM

Dr. Shakeel Niazi and the dental professionals at The Elite Smile Center are committed to providing state-of-the-art technology that will affordably brighten your smile.

The Elite Smile Center is one of the few practices in Michigan to offer YOMI-enabled implant surgery, the country’s first robotically-assisted dental-surgical system.

“With YOMI, there’s no cutting of the gums or bleeding during surgery. There also is little or no pain medication required after the procedure, which enables a much easier

recovery,” says Dr. Niazi, a multiyear Top Dentist honoree since 2008.

Elite Smile offers Invisalign, using a series of clear plastic aligners to align the teeth. They also provide cosmetic dentistry; same-day CEREC crowns and bridges; gum disease therapy; and TMJ, tooth restoration, and laser-assisted periodontal treatments, including tongue- and lip-tie release on infants.

Dr. Niazi takes great pride in offering complete dental care for the whole family.

Agenda

AUGUST

Culture Calendar

Our carefully curated guide to the month in arts and entertainment

BY RYAN PATRICK HOOPER

Sonya Clark focuses on community, fiber on her return to Cranbrook

You might recognize the name of multidisciplinary artist Sonya Clark. Hailing from Washington, D.C., but having earned her MFA at Cranbrook Academy of Art in 1995, Clark was behind the Healing Memorial at Detroit’s Huntington Place downtown — a representation of the COVID-19 pandemic’s toll on the city that was developed by enlisting residents to create small memorial pouches using fabric to honor their loved ones. Now, Clark is back in the state for a midcareer survey of her decadeslong career on display at the Cranbrook Art Museum. Sonya Clark:

DON’T-MISS EVENTS

Save the dates for comedy shows, film screenings, performances, and more

COMPILED BY LAUREN WETHINGTON

We Are Each Other brings together Clark’s monumental, community-centered works for the first time (including her Healing Memorial).

The pioneering fiber artist weaves in topics of history, race, community, and communication with one another. The result is a stunning multigallery exhibit that you can spend hours in, interacting with the work as you go.

Sonya Clark: We Are

Each Other is now on display at the Cranbrook Art Museum through Sept. 24. For additional details, visit cranbrookartmuseum.org.

AT THE MUSEUM

Massive photography exhibit at the DIA is a must-see One of the best shows you’ll see this year is James Barnor: Accra/

JULY 27-AUG. 6 • THEATER

Shakespeare Royal Oak: Enjoy an updated spin on one of Shakespeare’s early comedic plays, Love’s Labour’s Lost at this Royal Oak summer tradition. Performed live onstage by local actors at Starr Jaycee Park, the production follows the misadventures of three college fraternity brothers as they vow to avoid women in an effort to raise their grades.

Cost TBA. Starr Jaycee Park, Royal Oak; shakespeareroyaloak. com

AUG. 5 • MUSIC



London — A Retrospective, an exhibit dedicated to the work of the Ghanaian photographer. It’s the largest retrospective of his work in the United States to date, and you’ll only be able to see it at the Detroit Institute of Arts. Barnor started his career in the 1950s, and as you walk through the exhibit, you’ll watch him go from black-and-white to color and from the streets and political changes of Accra, Ghana, to the fashions of London, bringing African models to English newsstands in a groundbreaking way. The nearly 200 photos on display are separated by massive murals of Barnor’s work re-created on the walls of the galleries, supporting a narrativeforward approach to the exhibit that the DIA has championed for the past decade-plus. If you

Fans will also enjoy sets from four-time Grammy Awardnominated singer-songwriter

Ingrid Andress and breakthrough hip-hop and country fusion artist Breland. $35+. Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre, Sterling Heights; 313presents.com

AUG. 5 • FILM

Movies in the Moonlight: Head to scenic downtown Rochester for an outdoor screening of family-friendly films at the corner of East Third and Water streets. The preshow kicks off at 8:30 p.m., while the featured film will begin at dusk. Attendees are asked to please bring their own chairs. No cost. Downtown Rochester; downtownrochestermi.com

haven’t found yourself connecting with photo exhibits in the past, James Barnor: Accra/ London will be the one to change that for you.

James Barnor: Accra/ London — A Retrospective is now on display through Oct. 15 at the Detroit Institute of Arts. The exhibit is free with admission. For more details and a glimpse of the photos on display, visit dia.org.

LIVE MUSIC

Didn’t

of Detroit’s electronic music scene? Charivari

to the rescue.

plays second fiddle to the massive Movement electronic music festival, but it’s just as relevant and important to the city’s cultural cachet. This month, the fest returns for its 10th anniversary to Historic Fort Wayne (a supergreat yet underutilized venue) to bring elec-

AUG. 5 MUSIC

Smokey Robinson: Catch one of Detroit’s great Motown legends live in concert as the “Tracks of My Tears” crooner celebrates the 35-year anniversary of his legendary performance at the Fox Theatre’s grand reopening in 1988. The Grammy Legend Award recipient and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee has sold more than 1.5 million albums over the course of his 60-year career. $59+. Fox Theatre, Detroit; 313presents.com

AUG. 5-6 • ART

Belle Isle Art Fair: At this juried art fair on Detroit’s scenic Belle Isle, art lovers can browse paintings, ceramics, jewelry, and glasswork from more than 80 local and national artists. A selection of food trucks will also be available, along with live music and make-and-take projects led by the Anton Art Center. No cost with a state park pass. Belle Isle, Detroit; belleisleartfair.com

AUG. 6 • MUSIC

Peter Rowan Bluegrass

Band: Grammy Award-winning bluegrass legend Peter Rowan’s career has spanned more than five decades. See him perform with his band in an intimate setting when he stops at The Ark this month to perform

tracks from his classic albums, including Dust Bowl Children and The First Whippoorwill, as well as selections from his newest Grammy Award-nominated release, Calling You from My Mountain $30. The Ark, Ann Arbor; theark.org

AUG. 10 • MUSIC

Darius Rucker: The former Hootie and the Blowfish singerguitarist will tour the U.S. to promote Carolyn’s Boy his first studio album release since 2017. Hear his latest track, “Fires Don’t Start Themselves,” along with fan favorites and brand-new material. Tennessee-based Americana band Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors will kick off the show. $35+. Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre, Sterling Heights; 313presents.com

COURTESY OF DIA SMOKEY ROBINSON PHOTOGRAPHY BY DEREK BLANKS

get enough

Photographer James Barnor’s “SickHagemeyer Shop Assistant” (top) and “Members of the Tunbridge Wells Overseas Club, Relaxing after a Hot Summer Sunday Walk, Kent” are two of nearly 200 of his photos on display at the DIA through Oct. 15.

Jack White. Still, we pay attention to and root for our hometown heroes even if we aren’t filling up our headphones with what they make. And when it comes to experiencing Detroit’s cultural exports, like electronic music, they’re the best when witnessed in person. Charivari Detroit

classic car event anywhere in the world. The ribbon cutting is Friday, Aug. 18, in Ferndale, and the cruise on Saturday takes place between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Cities along the route will have their own events beginning Friday. Highlights include Mustang Alley in Ferndale (Sat), the Performance Park Classic Car Show in Royal Oak (Fri. and Sat.), and a Ford Bronco show in Pleasant Ridge (Sat.). Ferndale to Pontiac; woodwarddreamcruise.com

tronic music to the masses. Let go of your preconceived notions of electronic music and embrace one of the city’s cultural strengths. Even the most timid music lovers will be blown away by expanding their minds with something new and fresh.

Charivari Detroit Music Festival takes place Aug. 11-13 at Historic Fort Wayne in Detroit. For more information and tickets, visit charivaridetroit.com.

Ryan Patrick Hooper is the host of CultureShift on 101.9 WDET, Detroit’s NPR station (weekdays from noon to 2 p.m.).

On My Playlist

A coming out party for Detroit’s Bonny Doon

It’s been a long, winding journey for Bonny Doon, a band that started in Detroit and now has members based here and in New York City. In 2018, they released Longwave, a sleepy indie favorite that established the three-piece as a band with big things ahead. Since then, they’ve toured extensively with acts like Band of Horses and even backed Waxahatchee on her critically acclaimed Saint Cloud album and subsequent tour. This year, Bonny Doon was finally able to release their latest effort after years of writing, rehearsing, and reexamining their sound. The resulting album, Let There Be Music, is the sound of Bonny Doon at their most mature and musically expansive, finding the sweet spot between Paul McCartney-era Wings and the sound of indie rock today. Must-listens include “Naturally” and “Maybe Today.” This is a band with Detroit roots that has the perfect album for you to fade into fall with.

You can stream the album Let There Be Music by Bonny Doon wherever you like to get your music. The best way to support independent musicians is by buying their physical media via Bandcamp.

AUG. 12 • FILM

Mandabi (The Money Order): Believed to be the first-ever full-length African language film to emerge from West Africa, this 1968 feature by Senegalese filmmaker Ousmane Sembène will show for one afternoon at the DIA’s Detroit Film Theatre in conjunction with its special exhibition James Barnor: Accra/London. The film follows an unemployed Senegalese man as he tries to cash a money order sent by his Parisian nephew and finds himself stymied at every turn. Presented in Wolof and French with English subtitles. No cost with museum admission. Detroit Film Theatre, Detroit; dia.org

AUG. 15 • COMEDY Tim Heidecker: After rising to late-night fame as one half of the Adult Swim comedy duo Tim and Eric, this comedian, actor, writer, and musician garnered appearances in dozens of smalland large-screen comedies, including Bridesmaids and Ant-Man and the Wasp. He also hosts Office Hours Live, a web series and podcast, with fellow comedians Vic Berger and Doug Lussenhop. $39.50+. Royal Oak Music Theatre, Royal Oak; royaloakmusictheatre.com

AUG. 17 • ART

Fash Bash 2023: Presented by Neiman Marcus, this signature Detroit event celebrates the season’s biggest trends in fashion, design, and style. The

night kicks off with a VIP cocktail reception followed by the Art of Fashion runway show, which will feature pieces by leading global designers including Carolina Herrera, Brunello Cucinelli, Tom Ford, Monique Lhuillier, and Michael Kors. $125+. Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit; dia.org

tour in 30 years — to Detroit this month. A celebration of all things classic hip-hop, the show also features a curated bill of genre legends, including The Roots, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Bone Thugs-NHarmony, Common, DJ Z-Trip, and Ice-T. $58+. Little Caesars Arena, Detroit; 313presents.com

AUG. 18-19 • FESTIVAL

AUG. 24

MUSIC

Jonas Brothers: The Grammy Award-nominated pop trio will embark on a 35-city stadium tour in support of their newest studio release, The Album, which debuted in May. The brothers will play their last five albums in their entirety when they stop at Little Caesars Arena, offering fans a chance to hear newer hits like “Waffle House” as well as older favorites like “Sucker” and “What a Man Gotta Do.” $39+. Little Caesars Arena, Detroit; 313presents.com

AUG. 24-26

COMEDY

Scott Seiss: After racking up hundreds of millions of views on TikTok with his hilarious “Angry Retail Guy” videos, this Baltimore native opened stand-up shows for big-name comedians like Patton Oswalt, Roy Wood Jr., and Joe Gatto. He’ll perform five shows at the Comedy Castle when he brings his sharp, energetic brand of observational comedy to metro Detroit this month. $23+. Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle, Royal Oak; comedycastle.com

AUG. 26 • FILM

iconic score in sync with the movie. VIP admission includes a photo op with the Goblin King himself. $25+. Redford Theatre, Detroit; redfordtheatre.com

AUG. 26

MUSIC

The Lumineers: On the heels of their critically acclaimed 2022 album Brightside, the beloved indie folk rockers will make a stop in metro Detroit during an encore run of their 2022 world tour. Exemplified in hit singles like “Ho Hey” and “Ophelia,” the band’s stripped-down sound is heavily influenced by rock greats like Bob Dylan and Tom Petty. English singer-songwriter James Bay will open the show. $76+. Pine Knob Music Theatre, Clarkston; 313presents.com

AUG. 26

COMEDY

Eddie B.: Self-styled as “America’s favorite teacher comedian,” funnyman Eddie B. made a name for himself with his viral “What Teachers Really Want to Say” web video series. His raw, uncensored, and hilariously realistic portrayals of what it’s like to be a teacher in the U.S. have garnered him an audience of fans from all over the globe. $35+. Royal Oak Music Theatre, Royal Oak; royaloakmusictheatre.com

AUG. 30

MUSIC

AUG. 18 • MUSIC

LL Cool J: See the “Going Back to Cali” rapper live when he brings The F.O.R.C.E. Live tour — his first headlining arena

Woodward Dream Cruise Weekend: On Saturday, Aug. 19, more than 1 million spectators are expected to gather along Woodward Avenue to behold the 40,000 vintage automobiles, muscle cars, and other collector vehicles that make up the Woodward Dream Cruise. Its route spans 16 miles, from Ferndale to Pontiac, making it the largest single-day

Third Annual Labyrinth

Celebration: Fans of the 1986 cult classic film are invited to immerse themselves in Labyrinth’s topsy-turvy world, complete with over-the-top decorations, themed craft cocktails, photo ops, and onstage dancing. As the film plays on the Redford Theatre’s silver screen, a live David Bowie tribute band will perform the

Alex G and Alvvays: Catch two critically acclaimed indie acts in one night when singersongwriter Alex G and indie pop band Alvvays share the stage at Royal Oak Music Theatre. Hear Alex G’s eclectic blend of rock, lo-fi, alternative, and electronica when he plays selections from his 2022 album God Save the Animals. Then settle in for some dreamy, shoegaze-tinged pop from Alvvays, whose 2022 release Blue Rev was named a best new album by Pitchfork. $35+. Royal Oak Music Theatre, Royal Oak; royaloakmusictheatre.com

Bonny Doon’s Bill Lennox (with flower), Jake Kmiecik (guitar), and Bobby Colombo.

AUG. 28, 1963 , was an especially significant and influential day for one graduate of Birmingham (now Seaholm) High School.

For 60 years ago, as a member of the charttopping folk group Peter, Paul and Mary, 25-yearold Noel Paul Stookey performed “If I Had a Hammer” and “Blowin’ in the Wind” at the National Mall before a crowd of 250,000 heard Martin Luther King Jr. deliver his famous “I Have a Dream” speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial as part of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. It was the largest demonstration for human rights in American history.

Both songs became anthems for the Civil Rights Movement, while the trio’s cover of Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind,” which just over a week before had peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard chart, revealed the troubadour’s genius to a much wider audience.

In 1963, with their perfectly blended three-part harmonies, stylized arrangements, and compelling songs, Peter Yarrow, Noel Paul Stookey, and Mary Travers quickly established themselves as the most popular and commercially successful group of the folk revival period while also becoming known for their activism.

That same year, Stookey married Betty Bannard, who had been a year behind him at Birmingham High and with whom he’d had a chance encounter at a New York subway stop.

Formed in Greenwich Village just two years earlier, the trio had debuted with their eponymous album in May of 1962. It quickly reached No. 1 with hits “Lemon Tree” and “If I Had a Hammer” while selling more than 2 million albums. The day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, three of the top 10 albums on the Billboard 200 album chart were the trio’s first three albums, while three of their singles, “Puff, the Magic Dragon,” “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right,” and “Blowin’ in the Wind,” were top 10 hits that year.

Speaking from his home in California (he has another in Maine), Stookey, now 85, reflects on the iconic Washington, D.C., performance.

“I didn’t have any outward perception of the moment like Mary did because I was too in the moment,” Stookey says. “But Mary commented to Peter as she looked out at the crowd, ‘We are watching history.’ Mary would have known because she

On Aug. 28, 1963, Peter, Paul and Mary performed during the March on Washington before Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech.

HE’S LOCAL F OLK

Noel Paul Stookey recalls his Birmingham roots and Peter, Paul and Mary’s iconic performance at the March on Washington 60 years ago

BY BILL DOW

had marched against the execution of the Rosenbergs, and Peter had been part of the political process a long time in New York. They were there before I was, and I owe a great deal to them.”

Even though the trio subsequently lost performance opportunities and record sales in several Southern states, they became even more active and participated in rallies supporting human rights, the peace movement, and causes as far away as El Salvador.

“If you were going to believe in the songs that you sang, then you were going to have to live them,” Stookey says.

The seeds for becoming a performer were first sowed after Stookey moved from Maryland to 288 West Lincoln in Birmingham at age 12 in 1950.

After first attending Barnum Junior High, Stookey attended the newly constructed Birmingham High School, where he drew cartoons and sometimes wrote features for The Highlander student newspaper, participated in the radio workshop, served as the master of ceremonies for the variety show, and along with friend Jim Mosby read morning announcements with dramatic flair while often interjecting bogus stories and humorous commercials for nonexistent products.

“It was a very progressive high school and unusual for its time for what it offered, including the Little Theater, which had great seating and a nice stage. It was a transformative time for me,” he says.

His life soon headed in a musical direction.

“If it wasn’t for working at a camera shop, maybe I wouldn’t have been in Peter, Paul and Mary, because Bob Luscombe, a fellow student salesman, found out I played guitar and wrote songs. He suggested that I

MUSIC

Noel Stookey and Betty Bannard Stookey are also celebrating a 60-year anniversary.

have a concert. The first one I ever performed was in the basement of our home on Lincoln,” he says.

Stookey and some friends then formed an R&B band called The Birds of Paradise that sang on WTOP Radio before appearing twice on Ed McKenzie’s Saturday Party TV show on WXYZ, where the group won the “Battle of the Bands” contest. Half of the band’s only album, The Birds Fly Home, was recorded at the high school.

Having discovered that the trio’s five Grammy Awards were gold-plated leftover pressings from other artists, Stookey admits, “I have much more fondness for that funky little 6-by-6-inch plaque hanging on my wall that I received for winning the talent contest on the Ed McKenzie show.”

After graduating in 1955, Stookey attended Michigan State University and honed his performance skills there with an eye on a journalism career before dropping out after his sophomore year when his parents moved to Pennsylvania.

In 1958, he moved to Greenwich Village and before long was serving as an emcee and singing at the Gaslight Cafe, where manager Albert Grossman (Bob Dylan’s manager) convinced him to join his two clients Yarrow and Travers to form a trio. Grossman quickly convinced Stookey to use “Paul” as his stage name, although Stookey reclaimed “Noel” in the ’70s.

Unlike other folk groups, Peter, Paul and Mary survived the British Invasion, and in 1967, the LP Album 1700 contained their only No. 1 single, “Leaving on a Jet Plane,” and the No. 9 hit “I Dig Rock and Roll Music,” co-written by Stookey, Jim Mason, and Birmingham High classmate Dave Dixon, a Detroit FM radio DJ.

But in 1970, the group disbanded, in part due to Stookey’s “spiritual transformation” and his desire to spend more time with his family, as each member

pursued solo careers. (This was the same year that Yarrow pleaded guilty to a sexual offense against a 14-year-old girl before being later pardoned by President Jimmy Carter.) After reuniting in 1978, they gained a new generation of fans while performing and recording until 2009, when Travers passed away from cancer. “Mary’s loss still comes in waves for me,” he says.

On Stookey’s first solo album in 1971, he released “The Wedding Song (There Is Love),” a tune that he says was written by divine intervention when Yarrow asked him to bless his wedding. The record became an instant hit and is still commonly played at weddings.

“The lyrics just came pouring out, but I will only take credit for singing it,” says Stookey, who quickly established the Public Domain Foundation, where all the royalties from the song (now over $2 million) are assigned to support charitable work worldwide. In 2001, Stookey and his daughter Liz Stookey Sunde launched Music to Life, a nonprofit that supports musicians and projects committed to social change.

“I’ve learned that what you give, you get back so much more in personal satisfaction, and it’s all part of a lifestyle that I’m blessed to be part of,” says Stookey, who will be celebrating his 60th wedding anniversary this year with Betty, their three daughters, and their four grandchildren.

In 2022, Stookey released his latest studio album, the jazz-inspired Fazz: Now & Then, and he continues to do a few solo performances and a half-dozen concerts each year with Yarrow. He is also completing an autobiography that will cover his years in Birmingham and his remarkable life.

When asked how he would like to be remembered, Stookey pauses and with a chuckle says, “Occasionally and fondly.”

The Birds of Paradise, Stookey’s high school singing group, perform in Pontiac. From left: Stookey, Peter Kass, Don Fraser, Howard Leavenworth, Jim Leach, Tom Halsted, and Ted Donay.

Stookey smiles at a 2016 performance with Peter Yarrow in Tarrytown, New York.

After his sophomore year at Michigan State University, Stookey dropped out and in 1958 moved to a Greenwich Village apartment, where his roommate Tom Halsted snapped this portrait of him.

EXPLORING THE LAND OF FIRE AND ICE

Impress your friends with a direct flight to Iceland, where you can meet great people, visit geysers and waterfalls, get rejuvenated, and geek out at Game of Thrones locales

BY KATE WALSH

“DAMN!” said one of my travel companions as we arrived in Iceland after our six-hour flight from Detroit. “I had no idea so many of my followers had Iceland on their bucket lists.” This was the first full day of a three-and-a-half-day press trip to Iceland in May for select members of Detroit media, sponsored by Icelandair, and my companion’s interest in the trip seemed to have quadrupled.

I was not surprised by his followers’ reactions. Iceland is a destination everyone seems to be talking about. Either they’ve been there and it is one of their favorite places on Earth, or it is on their mustvisit list. Is it excellent marketing, or is it really that great? We were about to find out.

The angle: In May (just four days before our flight), the airline launched direct service from the Detroit Metro Airport to Keflavík International Airport near the nation’s capital, Reykjavík; flights operate four days a week, May through October. Also, if you are flying from Detroit to locations in Europe such as Paris or Dublin — you can stop over in Iceland for up to seven nights with no additional airfare. Ours would be a three-and-a-half-day whirlwind tour of some key spots you can see during your stay or stopover. Here’s what I learned:

1. Icelanders are chill.

Before we even left Detroit, we discovered the country’s unofficial motto: Þetta reddast, which translates to “It will work out in the end.” This lesson was learned at DTW, when someone in our group misplaced his passport. Funnily enough, our airline host didn’t tell us this phrase until it had all worked out in the end. Maybe it’s because he was not Icelandic. Anyway, we did hear this phrase several more times during our trip from the locals when something didn’t go quite as expected. There is a certain laidback quality and unflappability to the people we encountered. Perhaps it’s their location on the planet. There really is nowhere to run to if you don’t like the way things are going. This point was driven home as we looked south from a spot in a southwest harbor and were told, “There is no land between here and Antarctica.” Yikes!

2. The climate is not so chill.

Despite its name, Iceland is not covered in ice. It has glaciers, which are cool to see up close, but they cover only about 11 percent of the surface area. As for the climate, it’s not as cold as you might think (in winter, it hovers around 32 degrees Fahrenheit), but

it also never really gets hot. If you were to visit this month (August), the high would be about 55. Their summer extends through September thanks to the Gulf Stream. I found that bringing a raincoat was a very good idea, not just for the rain we experienced but for the high winds. How strong was the wind? Hold on to your hats. When we exited Hallgrímskirkja, the landmark 245-foot-tall Lutheran church in Reykjavík, our photographer’s hat was blown off his head and flew straight up to the bell tower. He really liked that hat, but þetta reddast

3. It’s a great place to see the northern lights.

Our Icelandair host from the U.S.’ East Coast told us that October is his favorite time to visit Iceland. The temperatures are brisker than what you will find in metro Detroit (36-44 degrees Fahrenheit), but you still get fall colors and, best of all, northern lights. During our visit, we experienced 20 hours of daylight; in October, the days are much shorter (eight to 11 hours), but that gives you a larger time frame in which to witness the aurora borealis. Travel + Leisure magazine selected Iceland as one of the best places in the world to view the lights as you can see them most every night and the temperatures are much warmer than in other parts of Scandinavia.

4. The Land of Fire and Ice is out of this world. Seriously, as we drove from the airport through lava fields to our first location, The Retreat at Blue Lagoon Iceland, about 25 minutes from the airport, we felt like we were on a moon-landing mission; the landscape was raw and dramatic and unlike anything I had ever seen. Our guide, Karl (aka Kalli), from Reykjavik Excursions, told us these fields were formed 800 years ago when a nearby volcano erupted. I was surprised to see a lot of green interspersed with the brown lava landscape. Upon closer inspection, I saw it was moss, which we were told to touch gently, as it had been growing for hundreds of years. If we pulled on it, we would leave a scar that would take at least a hundred years to heal. Icelanders are very protective of their land and eco-conscious.

Iceland is one of the most volcanically active places on Earth (a big draw for tourists), and these lava fields make up 11 percent of the island’s surface. In 2021, Fagradalsfjall volcano — on the Reykjanes Peninsula, where the Blue Lagoon is located erupted for the first time in 6,000 years. You can take a guided hike to the site. Another part of the “fire” is the hot springs and geysers, which can be found throughout the country. During our daylong Golden Circle tour of the southern shore, we were

The Gullfoss (Icelandic for “golden falls”) is a cascading waterfall located on the Hvítá River canyon in southwest Iceland. Formed during the last ice age, the falls feature two drops totalling 105 feet.

PHOTO KEVIN WALSH

able to get quite close to the Strokkur geyser, which shoots water up to 100 feet every several minutes, but were warned not to get too close, as geyser water can reach up to 212 degrees Fahrenheit. This popular tour also included a stop at Seljalandsfoss waterfall, which is fed by melting water from the glacier-capped Eyjafjallajökull volcano.

Our last stop was a visit to the black-sand beach in Reynisfjara, which was literally a visit to a Game of Thrones location: Eastwatch-bythe Sea in the land of Westeros. Yes, Jon Snow walked on this sand. The series filmed in many other locations in Iceland, including another stop on our tour: Þingvellir National Park, where you can walk in the rift valley between cliffs created by the shifting of the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. This valley is where the Bloody Gate protects the Vale of Arryn.

5. The Blue Lagoon is everything it’s hyped up to be. When I returned from my trip, several people asked me if I had gone to the Blue Lagoon, which was named one of the 25 “Wonders of the World” by National Geographic in 2012, and if it was really that great. This artificial geothermal spa in Grindavík, in southwestern Iceland, made the water category on the magazine’s list. The lagoon is made up of 70 percent geothermal seawater, 30 percent fresh water, and is enriched with silica, algae, and minerals. This combination is said to have rejuvenating and healing properties for conditions such as psoriasis. I do not have any skin conditions, so I can’t say firsthand that it benefited me in that re-

gard. I can, however, say that that after my visit to the spa at The Retreat hotel — which included a long soak/swim in the resort’s private area of the lagoon, followed by scrubs of lava sand and salt, a cleansing silica mask, and moisturizing algae oil — my skin felt fantastic and rejuvenated. The in-water massages, where you lie face up on a floatation mat, covered with a blanket for warmth, while the therapist’s hands are between the mat and your body, are also not be missed. Do this, even if it’s windy and raining.

6. The food and drink are excellent.

One of Iceland’s three Michelin-starred restaurants, Moss, can be found at The Retreat at Blue Lagoon. We were not able to dine at Moss during our stay (it is not open for dinner on Tuesdays), but we found the resort’s other gourmet restaurant, Lava, to be quite good and in an amazing spot, surrounded by the lagoon. Its claims of “the finest, freshest local ingredients” appeared to be true, judging from my langoustine soup and fish of the day, which came from a nearby harbor that was named on the menu. Not surprisingly, seafood is a specialty in Iceland, a nation that is a bit smaller than Kentucky but with more than 3,000 miles of coastline.

Our visits to other fine-dining restaurants were just as impressive. These included two spots in Reykjavík — Héðinn, with simple and seasonal dishes and a big, beautiful bar in a former steelworks near the waterfront, and Sümac, serving Middle Eastern cuisine and Mediterranean-style cocktails. The latter was near our downtown hotel, Þingholt

Apartments from Center Hotels, and all of the downtown nightlife. The restaurant at our third-night lodgings, a luxury ranch-style resort called Hotel Rangá, was sublime and a welcome cozy retreat after a day of sightseeing. There I veered away from seafood and leaned into the Western theme, trying a steak, which was tender and flavorful. I did not regret my decision. Equally satisfying, and perhaps even more so, were the more casual meals on our south shore tour. Friðheimar greenhouse, where we dined at small tables surrounded by tomato plants, had bottomless bowls of fresh tomato soup and the best bread I have ever eaten (Icelanders are excellent bakers). Later that day, we got a “snack” at the Bryggjan Cafe in the harbor of Grindavík, an area known for shipwrecks (we saw them, just tossed up on the beach). When we walked in, it appeared to be a small lobster shack with a few tables, but then we went upstairs to find a massive event space with long wooden tables and pots of serve-yourself lobster soup and more of that great bread. Turns out this cafe made the list of the best meals Condé Nast Traveler’s editors ate in 2022. And here I was thinking I was eating at a place known only to local fishermen. Ah well, þetta reddast It was delicious either way.

 The northern lights shine over Hotel Rangá. They are especially visible during the dark winter months in Iceland.

KEVIN WALSH BLUE LAGOON COURTESY VISIT ICELAND

LIGHTS KRISTJÁN PÉTUR VILHELMSSON, COURTESY HOTEL RANGÁ

The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa with 70 percent geothermal seawater and 30 percent fresh water, enriched with silica, algae, and minerals. It’s said to have healing properties for skin.

Lava Restaurant at The Retreat hotel was built into an 800-foot lava cliff along the lagoon’s west bank, with natural rock walls and stunning views of the Blue Lagoon.

Waste Not, Want Not

A church kitchen in Detroit is making a difference for local residents, greater Detroit, and the planet

BY DREW SAUNDERS | PHOTOS BY CHUK NOWAK

PULL INTO

THE PARKING LOT

behind the Jefferson Avenue Presbyterian Church in Indian Village on any given Friday morning, and you’ll find the staff of Make Food Not Waste hard at work cooking, preparing, and packing dishes for locals to pick up in the parking lot. MFNW is a nonprofit that specializes in collecting food that would have gone to waste from restaurants and grocery stores around metro Detroit and repurposing it into meals for anyone who needs help keeping their fridge stocked.

This combination of staff and volunteers is capable of producing between 1,000 and 4,000 meals per week, according to MFNW founder Danielle Todd. Every single dish they provide is made from scratch via donated ingredients.

“We have food that goes out in different forms. ... We try to stock the community fridges in the area as well, because we are seeing that those are almost always empty,” Culinary Director Shanel DeWalt says. When Hour Detroit visited on a Friday in April, she said that week they had prepared 350 servings of food for The Salvation Army and 800 servings for those picking up at the church, and that’s “not even including the salads and the frittatas and the stews.”

In the surprisingly cavernous basement of the church, staff members were busy turning aging eggs into huge quiches and almost-overripe bananas into fresh banana bread. That food was then packaged and distributed, like it is every week,

rain or shine, across the east side and beyond.

Todd says that some of the deliveries “happen regularly. So certain days we will pick up from certain grocery stores and farmers markets.” But that’s not always the case.

On that particular day, DeWalt said MFNW had gotten “a call from another food pantry that did their distribution, and they had a lot of romaine lettuce left over that won’t hold until their next distribution.”

Hence, romaine was now part of the MFNW menu. The seasonal and somewhat random nature of what the organization gets sourced to it dictates an ever-changing menu where MFNW staff try to use their resources in the most efficient and culturally relevant way possible.

The eaters who came to collect food that day were mostly on the older side, but Todd says they serve people of all ages. Customers can range from individual neighborhood residents to entire partnering organizations like Bettye Wright’s TobeMc, a nonprofit senior day care center on Mack Avenue.

The nonprofit organization is just as much an environmental cause as a food access one.

One-third of the food Americans buy every year goes to waste. The Environmental Protection Agency found that in 2019, “about 96 percent of households’ wasted food ended up in landfills, combustion facilities, or down the drain into the sewer system.” Not to mention the food

How They Do It

wasted from grocery stores and restaurants. In fact, at least 25 percent of today’s global warming is driven by methane — which food waste produces — from human actions, according to the Environmental Defense Fund.

Wright calls MNFW’s service “phenomenal.”

“Great meals can be made from what otherwise would go to waste.”

Staff members package gumbo d’herbes for distribution. MFNW says it can produce between 1,000 and 4,000 meals per week.

The international anti-food waste certification system that MFNW follows, The Pledge on Food Waste, uses a multistep program to help companies to be more efficient about the amount of food they order, how they store it, and how they prepare it and to better coordinate its reuse via customer education and proper portion sizes.

The Pledge has a set certification process that is popular in Europe and Asia but is relatively new in North America. It’s partnering

with MFNW to help metro Detroit restaurants and other eateries (such as dining facilities at local universities) eliminate waste, provide food to food-insecure Michiganders, help their bottom line, and be kinder to the environment.

Restaurants that have been certified include the likes of Baobab Fare, Marrow, Miss Kim, and Saffron De Twah.

The Detroit Foundation Hotel and its restaurant, The Apparatus Room, are also on board.

Executive Chef Rece Hogerheide says that despite an initial hubbub over the extra paperwork, “there was an almost immediate buy-in” from his staff.

The certification process

can also have an impact on traditional restaurants and establishments that were already environmentally conscious, like Folk on Trumbull Avenue. “I think the more impactful thing for us has been the conversations around waste and why it’s important to limit that,” says owner and co-founder Rohani Foulkes. “Not just among the team and myself as an owner but also about informing our customers, vendors, and partners.”

To see a list of other restaurants and eateries around metro Detroit that have been Pledge on Food Waste certified or have pending certification, go to hourdetroit.com/ makefoodnotwaste.

Chef Alexis ChingmanTijerina chops leeks. Every dish is made from scratch using donated ingredients.

DRINKS

ON THE WATERFRONT

You don’t have to go far to enjoy lakeside (or riverside) drinking

BY MICKEY LYONS

THE RECIPE FOR A PERFECT waterfront beverage is elusive, but there are some common ingredients. Take a sunny summer afternoon or evening, add a lazy breeze and a killer view of glittering waves, and mix in some friends and an ice-cold drink, and you’re on the right track.

For some, that perfect summer drink is a frosty can of Short’s Brewing Co.’s Soft Parade. Maybe it’s a creamy, frozen hummer, created in 1968 at Detroit’s own Bayview Yacht Club by bartender Jerome Adams. Often, it’s as simple as a plastic cup loaded up with ice and a generous pour of vodka with whatever juice is on hand: the quintessential “boat drink.”

The Detroit River may be pretty far from Key West, but there are plenty of waterfront spots where you can catch the island vibe or enjoy some yacht rock inspiration. From St. Clair Shores’ Nautical Mile to Waterford’s massive deck bars and from Harsens Island’s classic watering hole Browns to Detroit’s celebrated Sindbad’s, Joe Muer, and the Roostertail, the shores of southeast Michigan boast a tremendous variety of spots for a drink by the water.

Fine-Dining Drinking

Some of metro Detroit’s best restaurants and bars are riverfront staples. Generations of Detroiters have closed business deals and celebrated special occasions at Joe Muer

restaurants in Detroit.

The GM Renaissance Center location opened in 2011, and the impeccable bartenders there have created a menu that pairs perfectly with a view across the river. The Windsor Skyline cocktail features the bright, crisp flavors of vodka, Campari, and lime with a bold and invigorating dash of habanero bitters.

Waterford has its own twist on fine riverfront drinking, with a quaint downtown and several spots where you can savor a crisp Michigan Riesling or a glass of bubbles. The Waterfront Restaurant & Lounge, formerly Pier 500, pivoted in 2016 to a more casual but still refined experience, with views of a scenic bend in the river. Just down the road, longtime favorite Portofino offers Wednesday lunch, Thursday evening, and Sunday brunch cruises on a yacht. There’s no better time or place for a Bellini than on board a yacht, waving to folks on the shores of Grosse Ile.

Casual Weekend Drinks

For a more relaxed vibe and to catch a different perspective on the ever-changing river, visit the relatively new but instantly beloved Coriander Kitchen & Farm, which boasts canalside drinks made with fresh ingredients sourced from right on-site. This Cocktail Helps Bees features bourbon infused with farm-grown herbs as well as honey from Detroit bees. A solid roster of nonalcoholic cocktails with farm-grown mint, herbs, and other ingredients makes Coriander a great option for early enjoyment.

Boat Drinks and Yacht Rock

Ever since Magnum, P.I., lifted his pineapple cocktail and donned his Detroit Tigers hat, Detroit’s had a love affair with boat drinks. What makes a boat drink? Any combination of rum, vodka, gin, or other spirits plus plenty of ice-cold fresh juice, ideally served with a tiny umbrella. For the ideal group outing, set sail in a private, floating tiki hut from Aloha Tiki Tours. From downtown Detroit, St. Clair Shores, or Wyandotte, groups of up to 12 can bring a cooler full of mixings and whip up some summer drinks. If shaking cocktails on a bobbing boat makes your stomach churn, though, there’s nothing wrong with filling a cooler with a Lagerhaus No. 5 Kölsch and some margarita Goses from Eastern Market Brewing Co.

For the landlubbers who’d prefer not to mix churning waves and chugging drinks, yacht rock reigns supreme at St. Clair Shores’ Nautical Mile. Spots like WaterMark Bar and Grille, Mike’s on the Water, and Zef’s Dockside Bar and Kitchen can make margaritas by the boatload for the hordes of boaters docking in from Lake St. Clair for a quick drink. Sipping a spiced rum and Coke while listening to some Steely Dan or Seals and Crofts — somehow, the experience is both uniquely Michigan and universally nautical. No matter where it’s enjoyed, the perfect waterfront drink has a few common elements. Says Coriander co-owner and chef Alison Heeres, “A perfect waterfront summer cocktail is one that is fresh, light, and fun to look at as well as drink. Infusing herbs into a summer cocktail is perfect to elevate and brighten drinks made with gin, vodka, and tequila. But the most important thing is having the right people on the patio with you.”

Coriander Kitchen & Farm’s drinks feature farm-grown herbs and mint, plus local honey.

 Located on a canal in Jefferson Chalmers, Coriander Kitchen & Farm is a perfect place for a summertime drink.

Dry bread and a colorful assortment of veggies make up this flavorful panzanella salad at Freya. The Detroit eatery offers a completely plant-based tasting menu.

HOUR PICKS

Elegant Eats

Vegan fine dining in metro Detroit

BY MARY BISHOP

WHILE VEGAN COMFORT food has found its way to menus across metro Detroit, plant-based fine-dining experiences are more of a rarity. Nonetheless, often nestled among mainstream menu items, elegant vegan eats can be found with some exploration and resolve. In fact, some of the area’s hottest locales offer such dining. Consider these must-tries.

Freya

Diffused light; cool, clean lines; and curated sounds from the vintage record player help create an atmosphere of easy certitude at this Milwaukee Junction eatery. Offering a host of prix fixe tasting menus, one of which is completely plant-based, Freya proves once and for all that vegan dishes can be every bit as artful and varietal as their nonvegan counter-

parts. With each course seemingly more inventive than the prior, the cuisine delivers a symphony of flavors with imaginative dishes like the sunchoke tart adorned with black garlic and berry compote and the tofu ricotta-stuffed cappelletti with apple slaw. House-made desserts are just as thoughtful and elegant. 2929 E. Grand Blvd., Detroit; 313-3515544; freyadetroit.com

Café Cortina

Generally considered one of metro Detroit’s most romantic spots, Café Cortina offers fine dining and impeccable service amid crackling fires and soft candles atop white linen. This timehonored Farmington Hills jewel has a dedicated list of plantbased pastas and entrees, to say nothing of the extensive wine list. Crispy layered eggplant and zucchini drizzled with a housemade pomodoro sauce, mushroom polenta, and decadent panna cotta are just a few of the brilliantly reimagined classics sans dairy, eggs, and meat. 30715 W. 10 Mile Road, Farmington Hills; 248-474-3033; cafecortina.com

Takoi

Don’t let Takoi’s industrial facade fool you. This Corktown eatery is every bit as

lively as it is adventurous. Neon lights line the interior of the restaurant, only adding to the energy and near-futuristic vibe. With humble foodtruck and pop-up roots, Takoi has had a brick-and-mortar location for six years and has received many accolades for its shareable Thaiinspired eats. Vegan offerings such as Khanom Krok (a charming coconut creambased bite with chili oil) and Som Tum Thai (spicy green papaya salad) prove that simple can be simply delicious. Curries, ramen, and wokcharred vegetables are sure to please the palate. Ask the mixologist to pair your cuisine with an inspired cocktail for a true culinary experience. 2520 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-8552864; takoidetroit.com

Flowers of Vietnam

The juxtaposition of authentic Vietnamese fare in Detroit’s Mexicantown neighborhood is not lost on its cultlike followers. In fact, this onetime pop-up is now a Detroit foodie favorite garnering national attention. The atmosphere is lively and genial, perhaps informed by its former Coney Island diner status.

Stunning plant-based dishes range from the simple (perfectly stirfried bok choy) to the decadent (fried oyster mushroom in a cacao chili sauce). Each dish delivers every bit of the authenticity, charm, and flavor for which the restaurant is known. 4440 Vernor Highway, Detroit; 313-554-2085; flowersofvietnam.com

Sozai

Helmed by James Beard Award finalist

chef Hajime Sato, Sozai is dedicated to providing truly sustainable nourishment, perhaps most notably with its Mori omakase. Served exclusively at the sushi bar, this chefcurated vegan tour delights with flavors and textures ranging from the timeless to the contemporary. Authentic dishes like seaweed salad and miso soup pay homage to the traditional while also invigorating the senses anew. Expertly crafted makimono and nigiri, both rich with fermented vegetables, offer taste sensations unlike most vegan sushi. The optional (and personalized) sake pairing elevates this culinary experience to the otherworldly. A vegan a la carte menu is also available. 449 W. 14 Mile Road, Clawson; 248-677-3232; sozairestaurant.com

A decadent vegan version of the classic panna cotta is served at Farmington Hills Italian restaurant Café Cortina.

ANNUAL NEWAY WORKS C ELEBRITY CHARITY GOLF CLASSIC

August 14, 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Cherry Creek Golf Club & Banquet Center

52000 Cherry Creek Drive

Shelby Charter Twp., MI 48316

586-333-3660

newayworks.org

The annual Neway Works Celebrity Charity Golf Classic w ill t ake place Monday, Aug. 14 at the notable Cherry Creek Golf Club in Shelby Township. Powered by Swing for a Cure, this charity golf tournament is in its sixth year. The format is a four-player scramble and the event will feature many prizes, including a $1 million Hole-in-One, a $10,000 Hole-in-One, Closest to the Pin contests, a Beat the Pro competition, celebrity guests, a continental breakfast, lunch at the turn, a steak dinner and awards ceremony, and much more.

All skill levels and ages are encouraged to participate in what is sure to be another fun and sold-out charity golf tournament.

If you would like to volunteer or serve as a sponsor, or if you need additional information on this 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization, please call 586-333-3660. Together, we can transform children’s lives!

AUTOMOTIVE WOMEN’S A LLIANCE 27TH ANNUAL GOLF OUTING: SWINGING FORE SCHOLARSHIPS

August 21, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Fox Hills Golf & Banquet Center

8768 N. Territorial Road

Plymouth Twp., MI 48170

877-393-2923

awafoundation.org

Join the Automotive Women’s A lliance’s 2 7th Annual Swinging Fore Scholarships

Golf Outing, to be held in the global epicenter of mobility. The outing is a fun way to connect with movers and shakers in the automotive industry, all while raising funds for scholarships to support females pursuing a career in this largely maledominated sector.

You can sign up your team for a foursome, or choose to take part in the golf clinic if you’d prefer to brush up on your golfing skills. Not a golfer? No problem! Purchase a ticket for dinner and cocktails, and take advantage of this opportunity to network with women in mobility. This signature affair benefits the AWA Foundation, which was founded to advance and empower every woman in automotive and related industries.

The deadline for all sponsorship recognition is Aug. 7. The deadline to register for golf outing and clinic is Aug. 11.

NEXT STEPS 4 S ENIORS FOUNDATION

2023 OVATION:

VARIETY SHINE FASHION SHOW

August 27, 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Somerset Collection South Rotunda

2800 W. Big Beaver Road

Troy, MI 48084

248-258-5511

variety-detroit.com/special-events/ variety-shine-fashion-show

Variety Detroit is a children’s charity that helps kids with unique and special needs by providing vital medical and therapeutic services, essential support, and recreational and educational opportunities.

This beautiful fashion show features the children of Variety and FAR Therapeutic Arts & Recreation, who rock the runway with community mentors in the latest back-to-school fashions from Somerset Collection retailers. The children who model for the event receive hair and makeup services courtesy of Alex Emilio salon. All proceeds benefit the Variety 4-H Horseback Riding Program and FAR’s Making Music with Friends Scholarship Program.

PGPA BUSINESS NETWORKING GOL F OUTING

August 11, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. 855-711-7472

FELDMAN AUTOMOTIVE C HILDREN’S MIRACLE CELEBRITY INVITATIONAL

August 28, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Detroit Golf Club

17911 Hamilton Road, Detroit, MI 48203

947-522-0100 beaumont.org/giving/foundation-events

The Feldman Automotive Children’s Miracle Celebrity Invitational is a unique celebrity golf event where every foursome enjoys a celebrity pairing. This partnership between Corewell Health’s Beaumont Children’s and the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation features 50 national and local celebrities from the world of entertainment and professional sports.

The Invitational includes a full day of golf on the premier courses of the Detroit Golf Club, all-day hospitality, and a live auction of over-the-top experiences. All proceeds benefit the Children’s Miracle Network at Corewell Health’s Beaumont Children’s and the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation. For event details, sponsorships, and registration, visit beaumont.org/giving/events.

CRUISE F OR A CAUSE

August 29, 6p.m. - 10 p.m. Jefferson Beach Marina 24400 Jefferson Ave. St. Clair Shores, MI 48081 248-651-5010

nextsteps4seniorsfoundation.org

Join the Next S teps 4 Seniors Foundation for a beautiful sunset cruise on the Detroit River and Lake St. Clair aboard the luxurious Ovation yacht. The event will raise funds to help bridge the financial gap for seniors in need of proper housing and care.

The intimate evening will start with a champagne reception followed by delicious hors d’oeuvres, cuisine stations, and cocktails. Wendy Jones, founder and president of Next Steps 4 Seniors, will share with you the impact your support has made to change the lives of hundreds of families. The festivities will also include a deejay and dancing.

If you have any questions or are unable to attend but would like to make a donation, please call 248-6515010. Space is limited, so reserve your spot today. Your financial support helps change the life of a low-income senior in need.

Professional Golf Planners of America, LLC (PGPA) is proud to be working with Michigan homeless shelters to provide an inaugural Business to Business Networking Charity Golf Outing on Aug. 11 at the private Heathers Club of Bloomfield Hills.

The charity golf outing features a nine-hole tournament with a shotgun start. The team scramble format provides a day of business networking, in addition to prizes and contests. Add a little excitement to your day by not knowing who's on your team; random team selection will take place 30 minutes before the start of the event. Simply drop your business card in the bowl and let fate happen! To sign up, please visit progolfplanners.com/bngo.

To learn more about PGPA, visit progolfplanners. com. To receive emails for event updates, please visit progolfplanners.com/updates.

PARTY IN THE PARK

August 3, 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. downtowndetroit.org

Party in the Park is an outdoor f undraising e vent, taking place August 3, from 6-9 p.m. at the award-winning Campus Martius Park. Enjoy a refreshing evening of live music, specialty cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, networking with Michigan leaders in the civic, corporate and philanthropic sectors and more. Proceeds will benefit Downtown Detroit public spaces that are managed by Downtown Detroit Partnership.

Restaurant Guide

Wayne

Al Ameer $$

LEBANESE • This Lebanese restaurant is a recipient of the prestigious James Beard America’s Classics Award. The Al Ameer platter is perfect for sharing: two grape leaves, two fried kibbeh, chicken shawarma, tawook, kabob, kafta,and falafel. 12710 W. Warren Ave., Dearborn; 313-582-8185. 27346 Ford Road, Dearborn Heights; 313-565-9600 L,D Mon.-Sun.

Amore da Roma $$

ITALIAN • Guy Pelino, Roma Café’s chef, took over the ownership reins of this restaurant on the edge of the Eastern Market. He retained the menu, adding a charcuterie board and updating the wine list, and didn’t change the character of the old-school restaurant, known for its steaks and pastas. 3401 Riopelle St., Detroit; 313-831-5940. L,D Tue.-Sat.

Andiamo $$

ITALIAN • Over the past three decades, Joe Vicari has established several Andiamo restaurants in metro Detroit, all inspired by the late master chef Aldo Ottaviani’s philosophy of seasonal, fromscratch cooking. The menus differ slightly at the different locations, but the constant is the fresh, housemade pastas — handcrafted by the trinity of “pasta ladies,” Anna, Tanya, and Angelina, who have carried on the tradition. The downtown Detroit location offers a breathtaking view of the Detroit River, while the Livonia location offers a comfortable and casual vibe. 400 Renaissance Center, Detroit; 313567-6700. D Mon.-Fri., L,D Sat.-Sun. 38703 Seven Mile Road, Livonia; 734-953-3200. D Mon.-Sun.

Antonio’s Cucina Italiana $$

ITALIAN • The Rugieros have impressed restaurant guests for decades with authentic cuisine. Signature dishes include Gnocchi Rita and Chicken Antonio. There’s a full bar and a very extensive wine list. 2220 N. Canton Center Road, Canton; 734-981-9800. 26356 Ford Road, Dearborn Heights; 313-278-6000. 37646 W. 12 Mile Road, Farmington Hills; 248-994-4000. L,D daily.

Apparatus Room $$$$

NEW AMERICAN • The Foundation Hotel’s restaurant, the Apparatus Room, once housed the Detroit Fire Department headquarters. The cooking of chef Thomas Lents, who earned two Michelin stars while at Chicago’s Sixteen, is refined and highly skilled. 250 W. Larned St., Detroit; 313-800-5600. D Tues.-Sun.

Atwater in the Park $

GERMAN • At this casual spot, traditional German-style beer is the beverage of choice. Chef Chris Franz’ noteworthy menu is compatible with such additions as a platter of local bratwurst and other sausages teamed with sauerkraut, plus Bavarian soft pretzels. 1175 Lakepointe St., Grosse Pointe Park; 313-344-5104. L,D daily.

Avalon Café and Bakery $$

ORGANIC BAKERY • The bakery’s mini-empire includes a café on Woodward Avenue in Detroit. Its bread is also the basis for dishes such as avocado toast with tahini, thinly curled cucumbers, lime, and chili

FEATURED

Cadieux Café

BELGIAN

This former Prohibition-era speakeasy has been a home away from home for Belgian immigrants since it opened in 1933. Today, the menu includes Flemish favorites such as mussels (four different options, all with pommes frites, of course), Belgian rabbit, and housemade Belgian sausage. The venue is also known for its featherbowling, live music, 5,000-square-foot biergarten, and massive international beer selection.

4300 Cadieux Road, Detroit; 313-8828560. D daily.

flakes. Vegetarian fare includes a grilled veggie sandwich with portobello mushrooms, zucchini, and goat cheese. Meatier highlights include a turkey and gouda sandwich, and BLTA with cider house bacon. 1049 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-285-8006. B,L daily.

Babo $

NEW AMERICAN • This café settled into the Midtown Park Shelton building in July 2019, serving elevated comfort food made from local, small-batch producers. The self-described gourmet diner offers espresso drinks and such dishes as avocado toast, kimchi patatas bravas, and the Babo Burger. 15 E. Kirby St., Ste. 115, Detroit; 313-974-6159. B,L,D Tue.-Sat. B,L Sun.

Baker’s Keyboard Lounge $$

SOUL FOOD • This iconic lounge serves soul food: beef short ribs with gravy, creamy mac and cheese, collard greens, and sweet cornbread muffins. 20510 Livernois Ave., Detroit; 313-345-6300. L, D Tue.-Fri.

Baobab Fare $$

AFRICAN • With his New Center restaurant, Mamba Hamissi urges diners to venture into culinary territories they’d otherwise evade, like the Mbuzi starring a goat shank that is slow-roasted until the meat is so tender that it slides off the bone with ease. 6568 Woodward Ave., Ste. 100, Detroit; 313-265-3093. L,D Tue.-Sun.

Barda $$$$

ARGENTINIAN • Barda brings a new cuisine to metro Detroit. True to Argentinian culture, the restaurant celebrates traditional meat dishes. For starters, Carne y Hueso, meaning Flesh and Bone, features a mold of finely chopped beef tartare topped with spicy horseradish alongside a dense bone filled to the brim with buttery marrow. Tira de Asado, a classic Argentinian short rib dish, arrives on a plate in a coriander-pepper crust. And Inch-thick slices of rare Bife, or strip loin steak, lie on a bed of melted butter infused with chimichurri. 4842 Grand River Ave., Detroit; 313- 952-5182; bardadetroit.com. D Thurs.-Sun.

Bash Original Izakaya $$

JAPANESE • From the proprietor of Canton’s popular Izakaya Sanpei comes a Japanese pub located in Woodbridge. Occupying the former home of Katsu, Bash maintains much of that eatery’s Asian-inspired décor, such as hanging lanterns and bamboo shades. Bash’s drink menu focuses on Japanese craft beer, while the food menu of small plates and sashimi includes Gyoza, Tempura Udon, and fried octopus balls called Tako Yaki. 5069 Trumbull Ave., Detroit; 313-7887208; L Wed.-Sat. D Tue.-Sun.

Besa $$$

EUROPEAN-INSPIRED • This modern fine-dining eatery takes its name from Albania — where the owners trace their heritage — and means “pledge of honor.” Choose from starters such as roasted olives, fried calamari, and double-cut lamb chops. 600 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-315-3000. D Mon.-Sat.

Bobcat Bonnie’s $

GASTROPUB • The menu is eclectic, featuring fried goat cheese, fish tacos, Buddha bowls, and a barbecue bacon meatloaf — plus, plenty of vegetarian and vegan

YOUR COMPREHENSIVE RESOUR CE FOR DINING OUT IN METRO DETROIT

options, The weekend brunch, complete with a Bloody Mary bar and all the classics, is a big hit. See bobcatbonnies.com for locations and hours.

Bohemia $$$

NEW AMERICAN • The former member’s only lounge in this restored Romanesque Revival in downtown Detroit is now a posh restaurant open to the public (the downstairs bar is also open to the public). The stunning dining room reflects the club’s history while staying fresh and modern with local art on the walls and an Instagrammable seating area in the middle of the dining room with plush couches and trees lined with lights. The food is upscale but approachable such as the Nashville Fried Chicken and the lobster fettucini, which is worth every indulgent bite. 712 Cass Ave., Detroit, 313338-3222. D Wed.-Sat..

Brome Modern Eatery $$

BURGERS • This healthy spin on a classic serves neverfrozen, grass-fed, antibiotic-free, organic burgers. There’s beef, chicken, haddock, and vegetarian dishes but no pork, as the restaurant is halal. There’s also a cold-pressed juice bar. 22062 Michigan Ave., Dearborn; 313-996-5050. L,D Mon.-Sun.

Bronze Door $$$$

NEW AMERICAN • One of the newest restaurants under the Joe Vicari Restaurant Group brand (in partnership with Tony Soave of Soave Enterprises) revives the well-known name of a Grosse Pointe staple from the mid-1900s. In the 1960s and 1970s, 123 Kercheval Ave. was home to the Bronze Door, which closed to make way for The Hill Seafood and Chop House. In 2021, it was born again as the Bronze Door, offering classic bistro fare like steak frites and house specialties such as Potato Pillows and Shrimp (butter fondue, sage, cracked pepper, pecorino Romano, and truffle). 123 Kercheval Ave., Grosse Pointe Farms; 313-886-8101. D Mon.-Sat.

Bucharest Grill $

MEDITERRANEAN-AMERICAN • This bustling casual sandwich shop, now with five locations, is a cult favorite with its fresh Mediterranean fare, notably the best chicken shawarma wrap sandwiches in town. We’re serious. See bucharestgrill.com for locations and hours.

Café Nini $$$

ITALIAN • This intimate spot offers well-prepared food that includes eight appetizers, more than a dozen pasta dishes, and 16 main plates, notable among which are tournedos di vitello — medallions of veal filet in a fresh mushroom sauce. The wine list is impressive as well. 98 Kercheval Ave., Grosse Pointe Farms; 313-308-3120. D Tue-Sat.

Cantoro Italian Market and Trattoria $$

ITALIAN • A restaurant inside the market serves great traditional Italian food. Do not miss the Tagliatelle alla Bolognese: wide pasta with a meat sauce featuring ground veal, beef, sausage, and pancetta. It makes for a delicious Italian feast you can conveniently pick up on your way home. 15550 N. Haggerty Road, Plymouth; 734-420-1100. L,D Tues.-Sat., L Sun.

RESTAURANT LISTINGS 08.23

Caucus Club

$$$

• The reborn spot emphasizes service and a traditional steak and seafood theme, with such tasty signature dishes as wood-grilled ribs, seared scallops, and steaks.150 W. Congress, Detroit; 313-965-4970. D daily.

TRADITIONAL AMERICAN

Dakota Inn Rathskeller $ EUROPEAN-INSPIRED • The sausages are the kind that snap when you cut them. The combo plate features one bratwurst and one knack-wurst, served with hot German potato salad and sauerkraut. And yes, sing along with the schnitzelbank song 17324 John R St., Detroit; 313-867-9722. D Thu.-Sat.

Evie’s Tamales $$

MEXICAN • This Mexicantown restaurant makes some of the best tamales around. Pork or chicken is jacketed with sturdy masa, a dough of ground corn, and then wrapped in a corn husk and steamed. Eat in or order a dozen for later. 3454 Bagley St., Detroit; 313-843-5056. B,L Mon.-Sat.

Central Kitchen & Bar

$$

CREATIVE COMFORT The space facing Campus Martius is done up in gray and white under industrial light fixtures. Crowd-pleasers include buttermilk fried chicken, filet and frites, burgers, and salads. 660 Woodward Ave., Ste. 4A, Detroit; 313-963-9000. D Thu.-Sat., BR Sat.-Sun.

Chartreuse Kitchen & Cocktails $$

NEW AMERICAN • While the menu rotates based on the season, its offerings always highlight the freshest local ingredients. Creatively prepared dishes range from cold starters to hearty entrees. But the Twice Cooked Egg is not to be missed. 15 E. Kirby St., Detroit; 313-818-3915. D Tue.-Sat.

City Kitchen $$ AMERICAN • The emphasis is on fresh fish and seafood here, but also on the locals — especially lake perch. There are also such dishes as Cajun tenderloin tips and a few good angus burgers. 16844 Kercheval Ave., Grosse Pointe; 313-882-6667. L Mon.-Fri., D nightly.

Cliff Bell’s $$

EUROPEAN-INSPIRED This restored Art Deco hotspot offers small plates such as oysters with cava granita and a salmon croquette. Large plates include sesame soy glazed shiitakes and summer stir fried vegetables with coconut rice. Jazz prevails on the bandstand. 2030 Park Ave., Detroit; 313-961-2543. D Wed.-Sun.

Common Pub $

GASTROPUB Fans of Atlas Global Bistro, which shuttered in 2013, should be happy to learn that some of the principals may be found at this spot in the Belcrest Apartments. The well-edited menu includes duck fried chicken and a burger. 5440 Cass Ave., Detroit; 313-2858849. L Tue.-Sat.

Coriander Kitchen and Farm $$

GASTROPUB At this Jefferson Chalmers eatery, guests can rent fire pits and roast housemade marshmallows to make s’mores, or sip mugs of Hot Buttered Rum. By day, grab a picnic table and dip hunks of grilled flatbread into creamy fish dip made with smoked white fish and lake trout and seasoned with herbs from the farm. 14601 Riverside Blvd., Detroit; 313-822-4434. D Thurs.-Sat. BR Sun.

Cork & Gabel $$$

EUROPEAN-INSPIRED

• This Corktown eatery takes the form of a 4,450-square-foot renovated beer hall and is an ode to filling European staples. Try the chicken marsala, featuring a pan-seared 7-oz. chicken breast, sauteed wild mushroom blend, wild rice, seasonal grilled vegetables, cooked in a Lombardo Ambra Sweet Marsala wine sauce. Simply delicious! 2415 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-638-2261. D Thu-Sat. BR Sat. B,L Sun.

Cuisine $$$

EUROPEAN-INSPIRED

• Cuisine offers a romantic, white-linen experience with the level of food, service, and ambience one might describe as timeless rather than trendy. Examples of the expertly prepared fare include the Thai snapper as well as the sea Scallops, featuring corn risotto, creamed leeks, and citrus butter. 670 Lothrop Rd., Detroit; 313-872-5110. D Tue.-Sun. (Note: not wheelchair accessible.)

Detroit Shipping Company $

FUSION

• This bi-level destination, created out of shipping containers, offers a variety of food options ranging from the Caribbean-fusion dishes at Coop to Thai fare from Bangkok 96 and more. 474 Peterboro St., Detroit; 313-462-4973. L Sat.-Sun., D daily.

Detroit Soul $

SOUL FOOD• A hidden gem on the city’s East Side. Detroit Soul serves its namesake with a healthy twist. Owners Sam Van Buren and Jerome Brown draw from the recipes of their grandparents, who relocated to Detroit from Alabama in the 1940s. The turkey and collard greens are savory standouts and yams are a sweet treat. This is the kind of place that every soul-food lover must visit. 2900 E. Eight Mile Road, Detroit; 313-366-5600. L,D Tue.-Sun.

Detroit Vegan Soul $

VEGAN The popular spot offers your classic soul food favorites but with plant-based twists — mac and cheese, maple-glazed yams, collard greens, and interpretations of catfish and pepper steak. 19614 Grand River Ave., Detroit; 313-766-5728. L,D Wed.-Sat.

Dime Store $

BREAKFAST/BRUNCH • This popular breakfast and lunch spot adds just the right retro touch to a contemporary American menu typified by fresh, hearty omelets and Benedicts early in the day. 719 Griswold St., Ste. 180, Detroit; 313-962-9106. B,L Mon.-Sun.

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR  2010

Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe $$$

GASTROPUB • A jazz club with top guest musicians and an American bistro menu in a traditional interior. Starters include shrimp pico and pan-fried calamari. Main entries include a beef short rib. 97 Kercheval Ave., Grosse Pointe Farms; 313-882-5299. L Tue.-Fri., D Tue.-Sat.

Eatori Market $$

SPECIALTY GROCERY • This stylish spot overlooks downtown’s Capitol Park. The menu has steamed mussels with leeks, garlic, and toasted crostini. International flourishes abound with truffle aioli for the burger. 1215 Griswold St., Detroit; 313-395-3030. L,D daily.

El Asador Steakhouse $$

MEXICAN • A concentrated cuisine with little modern flairs that also stays faithful to traditional Mexican cooking. Don’t miss the Camarones en Salsa de Langosta: breaded shrimp stuffed with cheese, fried to a golden dark brown, and topped with a lobster cream sauce. It’s a delicious dinner spot you don’t want to miss and an unassuming Latin-American find in Detroit’s Springwells Village. 1312 Springwells St., Detroit; 313-297-2360. L,D Tue.-Sun.

El Barzon $

MEXICAN-ITALIAN • Norberto Garita prepares Italian and Mexican cuisines alongside his wife, Silvia Rosario Garita. Authentic Mexican entrees include enchiladas with a homemade green sauce made with tomatillo, jalapeños, and roasted poblano pepper, while the Italian influence takes the form of spaghetti carbonara and zuppa di pesce (seafood soup). 3710 Junction Ave., Detroit; 313-894-2070. D Tue.-Sun.

Fishbone’s Rhythm Kitchen Café $$ NEW ORLEANIAN • Enjoy classic New Orleans dishes, such as jambalaya and fried catfish beignets. Come for breakfast, lunch, dinner, happy hour, or carry-out. 400 Monroe St., Detroit; 313-965-4600. 29244 Northwestern Hwy., Southfield; 248-351-2925. 23722 Jefferson Ave., St. Clair Shores; 586-498-3000. L,D (downtown), B, L,D Southfield and St Clair Shores.

Flowers of Vietnam $$

VIETNAMESE • Chef and owner George Azar transformed a former Coney Island into an industrial-cool destination, but the neighborhood joint vibe remains. The menu is shaped around Azar’s appreciation of Vietnamese food, with a very personal twist. 4440 Vernor Hwy., Detroit; 313-554-2085. D Thu.-Sun.

Folk $

NEW AMERICAN • A charming Corktown storefront dishing up an all-day brunch menu. It’s an offshoot of the Farmer’s Hand grocery and farmers market. The menu focuses on globally inspired dishes, like salads, quiche, and sandwiches — all beautifully plated and nutritious. Infused milks and frothy lattes are well sought after, too. 1701 Trumbull Ave., Detroit; 313-7422672. BR Wed-Mon.

Ford’s Garage $$

FEATURED Capers

STEAKHOUSE

This is the type of place longtime Detroit natives describe like an old friend. On Gratiot Avenue between Seven and Eight Mile roads, Capers has been packing them in for nearly 40 years. There’s a massive a la carte menu, with items such as barbecue baby back ribs and potato skins, but the main draw is steak by the ounce, at market price. 14726 Gratiot Ave., Detroit; 313-5272100. L,D Wed.-Sun.

BURGERS • Henry Ford’s legacy is celebrated on Dearborn’s main thoroughfare. There are at least 12 variations on the classic American burger here. Try the Ford’s Signature, featuring a half-pound of grilled black angus beef, aged sharp cheddar, applewoodsmoked bacon, and bourbon barbecue sauce. Other appealing dishes include shrimp mac and cheese, and chicken wings. 21367 Michigan Ave., Dearborn; 313-752-3673. L,D daily.

Giovanni’s Ristorante $$$

ITALIAN • This old-school Italian restaurant offers housemade pastas, including an outstanding lasagna. Elaborate veal and seafood dishes and desserts like orange Creamsicle cheesecake round out the delicious menu. 330 Oakwood Blvd., Detroit; 313-841-0122. L,D Tue.-Fri., D Sat.

Grandma Bob’s $ PIZZA • If you’re wondering what that psychedelic building on Corktown’s Michigan Avenue is, it’s a pizzeria known as Grandma Bob’s. Chef Dan De Wall, previously of Wright and Co., offers a small, delicious menu of pies, including sausage and pistachio with ricotta cheese and thyme. Or try the Big Mack — the vegan pizza version of the popular burger. 2135 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-315-3177. L,D Thu.-Mon.

Grand Trunk Pub $

NEW AMERICAN • Breads from Avalon Bakery and meats from Eastern Market anchor the hearty fare, which pairs well with a selection of Michigan beers. Staples include a reuben with Poet Stout Kraut and the Ghettoblaster beer-battered fish and chips. 612 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-961-3043.; BR, L, D, Thu.-Sun.

The Greek $

GREEK • Plaka Café was a presence on Monroe Avenue for years, and now its space is in the hands of the founders’ children. Notable dishes include spinach pie, lamb chops, and New York strip steak. 535 Monroe Ave., Detroit; 313-209-6667. L,D daily.

Green Dot Stables $

NEW AMERICAN • The menu of sliders — with 20-plus eclectic bun toppings, including Cuban, Korean, and “mystery meat” — packs in fans. Local beers are spotlighted along with Chicken Paprikas soup, a nod to the neighborhood’s Hungarian origins. 2200 W. Lafayette Blvd., Detroit; 313-962-5588. L,D daily.

Grey Ghost $$

NEW AMERICAN • The cuisine at this Brush Park hotspot isn’t easily defined, but the results are original and well-prepared — for example, the duck breast with cheese grits and fried shallots and pork tenderloin with gruyere spaetzle and dill pickle mojo. 47 Watson St., Detroit; 313-262-6534. D daily.

Highlands $$$

STEAKHOUSE/NEW AMERICAN • Occupying the top two floors of the Renaissance Center, Highlands comprises three separate concepts. A steakhouse of the same name provides a high-end dining experience, while the more casual Hearth 71 serves locally sourced dishes cooked over an open fire. The third concept within the space is the appropriately named High Bar, where guests can choose from a vast collection of spirits and decadent desserts. 400 Renaissance Center, Floors 71 and 72, Detroit; 313-877-9090; D Mon.-Sat.

The Hudson Cafe $

BREAKFAST/BRUNCH • The fresh, well-prepared fare from the kitchen of this breakfast/lunch spot has creative takes on the eggs Benedict theme, red velvet pancakes, and apple-walnut stuffed French toast, as well as lunchtime sandwiches and salads. 1241 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-237-1000. B,L daily.

Hungarian Rhapsody $$

HUNGARIAN • This Downriver restaurant offers authentic Hungarian dishes, such as chicken and veal paprikas, beef goulash, and palacsinta (crêpes). 14315 Northline Road, Southgate; 734-283-9622. L,D Tue.-Sun.

Ima $

JAPANESE-INSPIRED • Japanese-inspired fare with a Midwest emphasis. Ima tacos trade the traditional shell for a slice of jicama-stuffed spicy shrimp, roasted tofu, or garlic chicken. Appetizers include edamame, dumplings, and clams. 2015 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-5025959. L,D Mon.-Sun.. 4870 Cass Ave., Detroit; 313-8839788. 32203 John R Road, Madison Heights; 248-7810131. L,D daily.

Ima Izakaya $$

JAPANESE-INSPIRED • Chef Michael Ransom has slowly and steadily built up his local chain of noodle shops over the past few years, and his latest one takes it up a notch with the izakaya concept, the Japanese equivalent to a pub. In addition to the staple noodles and soups that put Ransom on the map, the menu also includes grilled skewers from the robata grill such as Kawahagi Trigger Fish Jerky and Mini Kurobuta Pork Sausages. There’s also a tantalizing selection of cocktails and mocktails, sake, beer, and wine to make it a true izakaya experience. 2100 Michigan Ave., Detroit, 313-306-9485. L, D Mon.-Sun.

Ivy Kitchen and Cocktails $$$

NEW AMERICAN • This Black-owned restaurant was founded by Nya Marshall to bring fine dining to the East Jefferson Corridor where she grew up. The spot serves New American fare with international influences in a modern, elevated space bathed in neutral tones. The Mezcal Wings with pickled jalapeño and cilantro bring a Mexican kick, while dishes like the Shrimp Linguine Pomodoro contribute European flavors. 9215 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit; 313-332-0607; L Fri.-Sun., D daily.

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR  2012

Joe Muer Seafood $$$$

SEAFOOD • This reborn Detroit legend is stellar for a romantic evening or a quiet business lunch or dinner. Located on the main floor of the GMRenCen, it has sweeping views of the Detroit River and a menu that walks the line between old-time favorites and hipper Asian-influenced seafood, sushi and raw bar. There’s also a Bloomfield Hills location. There are reminders of the past as well: white-bean stew, smoked fish spread, creamed spinach, and stewed tomatoes. A true Detroit classic. 400 Renaissance Center, Ste. 1404, Detroit; 313-567-6837. 39475 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills; 248-792-9609. L,D daily.

Johnny Noodle King $

JAPANESE-INSPIRED • This noodle shop offers bowls topped with pork belly, confit chicken, and tofu as well as seaweed salad and gyoza. There are several fusion bowls as well like the Southwest topped with shredded chicken and housemade crema. 2601 W. Fort St., Detroit; 313-309-7946. L,D daily.

Jolly Pumpkin $$

BREWERY • Jolly Pumpkin’s brews rule the offerings, along with other Northern United Brewing Co. beverages, such as North Peak and Jolly Pumpkin artisan ales. Pizzas with creative toppings abound. 441 W. Canfield St., Detroit; 313-262-6115. 419 S. Main St., Royal Oak; 248-544-6250. D daily.

FEATURED Iggy’s Eggies

AMERICAN Jammy-yolk egg sandwiches, breakfast burritos, and more are on the menu at Iggy’s Eggies walk-up window. You can also get Lovers Only’s famous Classic Smash burgers and fresh-cut fries at Iggy’s.

Take your breakfast or lunch to a table at nearby Capitol Park for a true downtown experience.

34 Grand River Ave., Detroit; 313-9861174. B,L daily.

Karl’s Cabin $$

AMERICAN • Dishes from their currently rotating drive-through menu such as pan-seared walleye and beef tenderloin tips with Cajun spice and gravy surpass typical roadhouse food. 6005 Gotfredson Road, Plymouth; 734-455-8450. L,D daily.

The Kitchen by Cooking with Que $$

VEGAN • This eatery created by Detroit-based cooking blogger Quiana Broden serves lunches of smoothies, salads, and sandwiches. Broden also often offers live cooking demonstrations. 6529 Woodward Ave., Ste. A, Detroit; 313-462-4184. B,L,D, Wed.-Sat.

Kuzzo’s Chicken and Waffles $ SOUTHERN COMFORT • Several recipes, including a signature thin waffle, are family-owned at ex-NFL player Ron Bartell’s spot. Think comfort food kicked up a notch: fried catfish, salmon croquettes, shrimp and grits, and biscuits. Drink the Kool-Aid, too. 19345 Livernois Ave., Detroit; 313-861-0229. B,L,D Tue.-Sat., B,L Sun.

La Dolce Vita $$$

ITALIAN • Traditional Italian cuisine is key at this Palmer Park hideaway. Recommended is the lake perch in white wine sauce, the veal scaloppine with artichokes, and the lasagna. 17546 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313865-0331. D Tue.-Sun., BR Sun.

La Lanterna $$

ITALIAN • The founder of Da Edoardo, the first Edoardo Barbieri, started it all in 1956 with a restaurant called La Lanterna. Now his grandchildren have revived it. Although the white and red pizzas — like Margherita, Liguria, and Da Edorado — dominate, there’s more, including a number of elegant pastas like the Lasagna Alla Bolognese. 1224 Griswold St., Detroit; 313-9628821. L,D Tue.-Sun.

London Chop House $$

STEAKHOUSE • The kitchen turns out classics like oysters Rockefeller, French onion soup, and sautéed perch. This is the place to come when you need to satisfy a craving for steak in elegant surroundings with hospitable service. 155 W. Congress St., Detroit; 313962-0277. D Mon.-Sat.

Leila $$$

LEBANESE • The restaurant from the proprietors of Birmingham’s Phoenicia is named after the owner’s mother — just one facet of the establishment that pays homage to family traditions and heritage. The menu includes various Lebanese dishes, from falafel to Leila’s Mixed Grill that offers a little bit of everything with shish kebab, tawook, and kafta. Other menu items include Kibbeh Niyee — fresh lamb, cracked wheat, and spice — and tabbouleh made of parsley, cracked wheat, and spices. The beer and wine lists offer plenty of options to accompany any meal. 1245 Griswold St., Detroit; 313-816-8100; D Sun., L&D Mon.-Sat.

Lucy & the Wolf $$

SPANISH • This Anglo-sounding restaurant offers very good Spanish-inspired tapas dining. Standouts include a fire-roasted jalapeño cheese spread, shrimp tacos, and a grilled flank steak in chimichurri sauce. 102 E. Main St., Northville; 248-308-3057. L,D Tue.-Sat.

Lumen Detroit $$

NEW AMERICAN • A contemporary American menu and a Victor Saroki setting make the restaurant overlooking downtown’s Beacon Park one of the best of recent entrants onto the scene. Appetizers such as freshly made pretzels prelude main courses such as salmon with chimichurri herb sauce. 1903 Grand River Ave., Detroit; 313-626-5005. L Fri.-Sun., D. Wed.-Sun.

Mario’s $$$

ITALIAN • This Midtown Detroit classic dates to 1948. Linen-covered tables, framed paintings on wood-paneled walls, expert waiters clad in black tie, and tableside preparation survive here. Italian dinners always begin with an antipasto tray and continue through soup, salad, pasta, and entree. 4222 Second Ave., Detroit; 313832-1616. L,D daily.

Marrow $$

NEW AMERICAN • This West Village restaurant and butcher shop hybrid is an ode to meat, especially unusual cuts. Diners must walk through the butcher shop, bypassing cases of pastrami and sausage, before entering the restaurant. Offerings from a sample tasting menu include Roasted Bone Marrow and Lamb Kefta. 8044 Kercheval Ave., Detroit; 313-652-0200. L,D Thu.-Sun.

Maty’s African Cuisine $$ WEST AFRICAN • A small storefront in the Detroit Old Redford neighborhood is decidedly Senegalese. Fataya, a deep-fried pastry with savory fillings, are reminiscent of an empanada. The star of the show is the whole chicken with yassa. 21611 Grand River Ave., Detroit; 313472-5885. L,D daily.

M Cantina $

MEXICAN • Nuevo Latino street food is the premise at this surprising spot where everything from the tortilla chips to the salsas are made in-house in the open kitchen. Juices are freshly squeezed and the menu of tortas, tacos, tapas, and salads from the kitchen of Heidi and Junior Merino from Hawaii and Mexico is distinctive. 13214 Michigan Ave., Dearborn; 313-399-9117. L,D Tue.-Sun.

Mercury Burger & Bar $

BURGERS • This Corktown joint seats 70 around the zinc-covered bar set with Mercury (Liberty) dimes. The burger is available in a variety of iterations, such as Southwest Detroit with a chorizo slider, jalapeno, Müenster cheese, tortilla strips, and avocado. 2163 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-964-5000. L,D daily.

Metropolitan Bar and Kitchen $$ LATIN The business brings a bodega-style market along with a neighborhood restaurant and bar to West Village. The menu highlights local and seasonal ingre-

RESTAURANT LISTINGS 08.23

dients in dishes like the Buffalo Chicken salad with local greens and housemade blue cheese dressing and the Eggplant Sliders. 8047 Agnes St., Detroit; 313-4475418. L Wed.-Sat. D Fri.-Sat.

Michigan & Trumbull $$

ITALIAN-AMERICAN • After a successful four-month run at Fort Street Galley, Michigan and Trumbull became one of the latest in a long line of Detroit-style pizza joints to open in the area. Not your traditional carryout joint, Michigan and Trumbull is housed in a sleek, refurbished car-repair garage. The menu features square, deep-dish pies with Detroit-inspired names, such as Packard Pepperoni and Woodward White. 1441 W. Elizabeth St., Detroit; 313-637-4992; L,D Wed-Sat.

Mi Lindo San Blas $$$

MEXICAN • Heaping platters of seafood such as shrimp, octopus, and scallops, tell the story at this spot that brings a corner of Mexico’s seaside Nayarit region to southwest Detroit. On weekends when live music is added, the tables are often pushed back to create a dance floor. 1807 Livernois Ave., Detroit; 313-789-5100. L,D daily.

Monarch Club $$$

NEW AMERICAN • At the 14th floor of the revamped Element Detroit Hotel located at the Metropolitan is the Monarch Club. It’s one of the most recent rooftop bars to open in metro Detroit and serves a variety of delicious small plates along with classic cocktails. 33 John R St., Detroit; 313-306-2380. L Sun. D Wed.-Sat.

Mootz Pizzeria & Bar $$

ITALIAN-AMERICAN • Bruno DiFabio, a six-time World Pizza Games champ, rejects the label New York-style for his fare. “It’s authentic New York pizza,” he says. In a hurry? Grab a slice from Side Hustle, Mootz’s by-theslice counter next door. 1230 Library St., Detroit; 313243-1230. L Fri.-Sun., D Mon-Thu.

Motor City Brewing Works

$

BREWERY • Just 15 mostly nontraditional pizzas on excellent, chewy crust, and the option to build your own pie with various toppings. Plus, salads from locally grown greens to accompany the house-brewed beers. 470 W. Canfield St., Detroit; 19350 Livernois Ave., Detroit; 313-832-2700. L,D daily.

Mudgie’s Deli

$

DELI • Seats are often filled in search of the House Smoked Pastrami Reuben or the Brooklyn (beef brisket, bacon, and beer cheese). The dinner menu features meat and cheese boards as well as build-your-own sandwich options. It’s a delicious place for a meal any time. 1413 Brooklyn St., Detroit; 313-961-2000. B Tue.Sat. L Mon.-Sat.

Nico & Vali

$$

ITALIAN This eatery offers favorites with unexpected twists. The artichokes and chilies appetizer boasts battered and fried artichokes with Fresno and jalapeno peppers, tossed with fresh basil in white wine. Popular choices include the Whitefish Filet. It’s a classic Italian spot with an update that’s worth a visit. 744 Wing St., Plymouth; 734-207-7880. L Thu.Sat., D Tue.-Sun.

Norma G’s $

CARIBBEAN • Lester Gouvia, the Trinidadian chef who brought us the famed food truck, opened a fullservice restaurant under the same name. Stop in for a plate of Chicken Pelau: a tasty blend of rice, diced chicken, squash, peppers, and golden-brown baked chicken. 14628 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit; 313-2902938. D Tue.-Sat.

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR  2022

Oak & Reel $$

SEAFOOD • Despite a global pandemic threatening to derail his longtime dream, chef Jared Gadbaw brought his vision of a seafood-focused Italian restaurant to life in Detroit’s Milwaukee Junction neighborhood in fall 2020. Oak & Reel’s resilience in the face of extreme adversity and its commitment to the vision of bringing diners impeccable dishes showcasing the freshest seafood, all presented with welcoming and knowledgeable service, is the reason we’re naming Oak & Reel Hour Detroit’s Restaurant of the Year. The menu is seasonal and changes frequently. But in general, the crudos are pristine, the pastas are impeccable, and the seafood dishes are all well balanced and expertly prepared to accentuate the freshness and quality of the fish and shellfish. 2921 E. Grand Blvd., Detroit; 313-2709600. D Thu.-Mon.

Olin

FEATURED Parc

NEW AMERICAN

Excellent food, exceptional service, and a crisp and formal but distinctly unstuffy atmosphere set this Campus Martius gem apart. Appetizer highlights include a bright and fresh tuna tartare and wood-roasted oysters. Main courses include an interesting blend of Italian food, woodgrilled whole fish, and organic Scottish salmon. There’s also a large selection of dryaged gourmet steaks.

800 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-9227272. L,D daily. BR Sat.-Sun.

MEDITERRANEAN • A taste of the Mediterranean in Michigan. Starters like the potatoes and artichokes “bravas” with harissa and black garlic aioli and paellas are inspired by Spain but showcase Olin’s unique spin on these iconic dishes. 25 E. Grand River Ave., Detroit; 313-774-1190. D Tues.-Sat. BR Sun.

Ottava Via $$

ITALIAN • Chef Ariel Millan sends out great thin-crusted pizzas as well as interesting small plates typified by bruschetta, calamari, roasted garlic, and whipped goat cheese to be spread on paper-thin crostini. 1400 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-962-5500. L,D daily.

Pao Detroit

$$$

FUSION • Visit this upscale Pan-Asian fusion restaurant for Asian-themed cocktails and dishes, such as creamy rock shrimp, charred octopus, filet mignon, and orange sesame salmon. Based in the former Michigan Oriental Theater, the interior combines new and old. 114 W. Adams Ave., Ste. 200, Detroit; 313-816-0000. L

Sun., D Tue.-Sun.

Park Grill $$

MEDITERRANEAN • Mediterranean fare gets a Balkan spin. The menu offers tasting plates, pita-wrapped sandwiches, and salads, as well as entrees including chicken and beef shawarma, beef and pork kafta, lemon-pepper pork tenderloin, and lamb chops. Service is friendly and informal. 15102 Kercheval Ave., Grosse Pointe Park; 313-264-1997. L,D daily.

Pegasus Taverna $$

GREEK • The cry of “opa!” resounds in St. Clair Shores at the second edition of the longstanding Greektown restaurant. The resturant boasts an extensive menu, from moussaka and spinach pie to gyros and roast lamb. 24935 Jefferson Ave., St. Clair Shores; 586-772-3200. 558 Monroe St., Detroit; 313-9646800. L,D Tue-Sun.

The Peterboro $$

ASIAN-FUSION A contemporary take on AmericanChinese fare gives new life to the cuisine with robustly spiced dishes, including an “absurdly delicious” cheeseburger spring roll and a take on almond boneless chicken. 420 Peterboro St., Detroit; 313-833-1111. D Mon.-Sat.

Pho Lucky $

VIETNAMESE • This charming Midtown Vietnamese spot serves authentic fare emphasizing pho. Bowls of spicy broth with noodles, round steak, and meatballs come in several variations. Other noteworthy dishes here include summer rolls and crisp spring rolls. Look for Asian beers and robust Vietnamese coffee. 3111 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-338-3895. L,D Wed.-Mon.

PizzaPlex $

ITALIAN • This pizza isn’t just authentic, it’s certified. PizzaPlex earned the title of Vera Pizza Napoletana, or real Neapolitan pizza, from Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana in Naples. Try the Margherita. Topped with mozzarella, basil, and EVOO, there’s nothing like a classic. 4458 Vernor Highway, Detroit; 313-757-4992. D Thu.-Sun.

Polish Village Café $

POLISH • The “Polish plate” includes stuffed cabbage, pierogi, kielbasa, sauerkraut, and mashed potatoes and gravy. The dill pickle soup and city chicken are standouts, too. A Polish staple in Detroit, where there aren’t too many. 2990 Yemans St., Hamtramck; 313-874-5726. L,D daily. Not wheelchair accessible.

Portofino $

ITALIAN This big waterfront spot in Wyandotte is both a local hangout and a restaurant with a menu that’s surprisingly ambitious. It offers a number of fish and seafood dishes, from lake perch to coconut shrimp and fried calamari, as well as steaks. Nearly every table in the restaurant has a river view. 3455 Biddle Ave., Wyandotte; 734-281-6700. L,D Tues.-Sun.

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR  2019

Prime + Proper $$$$

STEAKHOUSE • Downtown Detroit dining gets a major shot of glamour with this over-the-top steak and seafood emporium on the corner of Griswold and State streets. Although red meat, from prime dry-aged Tomahawk ribeye to Wagyu strip, is the focus — and yes, there’s a burger made with a dry-aged butcher’s blend — oysters, king crab, and caviar aren’t far behind. An elegant white and gold setting backgrounds it all. 1145 Griswold St., Detroit; 313-636-3100.

D Mon.-Sun., BR Sat.-Sun.

Prism $$$

NEW AMERICAN • Greektown Casino-Hotel’s renamed eatery is located off the main casino. The menu features local ingredients, steaks, and fresh seafood. 555 E. Lafayette St., Detroit; 313-309-2499. D Wed.-Sun.

Rattlesnake Club $$$$

NEW AMERICAN This restaurant on the river remains one of the most appealing spots in town. The casually elegant space offers a range of appetizers, entrees, and desserts. Dishes that typify its style include seared diver sea scallops, an 8-ounce filet, and a 16-ounce porterhouse. 300 River Place, Detroit; 313567-4400. L,D Tue.-Sat.

Red Dunn Kitchen $$

NEW AMERICAN • The Trumbull and Porter hotel’s spiffy restaurant is an ambitious undertaking, offering three meals a day. It is best experienced at dinner, with a la carte offerings such as foie gras-stuffed quail, smoked and marinated salmon collars, braised lamb leg, and bacon-wrapped duck breast with polenta. 1331 Trumbull Ave., Detroit; 313-887-9477. B,L,D daily except on Fri., which is B,L.

Red Smoke Barbeque $$

BARBEQUE • At Red Smoke, hickory and applewoodsmoked ribs, pulled pork, apple-smoked, all-natural chicken, and an array of classic sides are served out of one of the most attractive two-story buildings that are still standing on Monroe Street. 573 Monroe St., Detroit; 313-962-2100. L,D daily.

Rocky’s of Northville $$ NEW AMERICAN • Menu includes shrimp cocktail, salmon pate, and broiled Great Lakes whitefish. Also try chipotle honey-glazed salmon. 41122 W. Seven Mile Road, Northville; 248-349-4434. L Tue.-Fri. D Tue.-Sun.

Voted The Best

ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS STARTING JULY 15 VISIT DETROITDESIGNAWARDS.COM TO ENTER

2-5 2023 Oct

Great Lakes Culinary Center 24101 W. 9 Mile Road, Southfield, MI 48033

Tickets available at savordetroit.com

Proceeds will benefit Habitat for Humanity

RESTAURANT LISTINGS 08.23

RECIPE METROPOLITAN BAR & KITCHEN’S

GOLD FINCH

PHOTO BY REBECCA SIMONOV

Directions

Chai Syrup

1. Heat water and sugar in a pot over medium heat until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from the heat.

2. Add in the chai tea bags and steep for 25 minutes. Strain into an airtight bottle and store.

Gold Finch Cocktail

1. In a cocktail shaker, add all of the ingredients and shake vigorously.

2. Strain into a rocks glass over ice and garnish with a Luxardo cherry.

Roman Village $ ITALIAN • The Rugiero family has been serving authentic Italian cuisine since 1964. They’ve launched three additional Antonio’s Cucina Italiana locations. Roman Village is the original and features their signature gnocchi Rita. 9924 Dix Ave., Dearborn; 313-8422100. L,D daily.

Rose’s Fine Food $ BREAKFAST/BRUNCH • The menu is straightforward, based mainly on fresh ingredients and from-scratch preparation. Breakfast eaters can choose from a variety of egg dishes, such as the Eggs and Cheese (soft scrambled eggs, herbs, and aioli). For lunch, there’s a selection of creative sandwiches. 10551 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit; 313-822-2729. B,L Wed.-Sun.

San Morello $$$

ITALIAN This Italian gem serves pizzas, pastas, and wood-fired dishes that draw inspiration from the coastal towns of Southern Italy and Sicily out of the Shinola Hotel. Think Tartufi Pizza with fontina and black truffle, handcrafted by James Beard Award-winning chef Andrew Carmellini. 1400 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313209-4700. B, KL D daily.

The Sardine Room $$$

SEAFOOD • A seafood restaurant and raw bar, The Sardine Room is fresh, fun, and energetic, with a clean-line décor and a menu full of surprises. For starters, there is a Seafood Louie featuring jumbo lump crab, shrimp, egg, avocado, tomato, and bibb lettuce. Worthwhile is a grouper sandwich that’s available seared, pan-fried, or blackened. 340 S. Main St., Plymouth; 734-416-0261. D daily, BR Sun.

Savannah Blue $$

SOUL FOOD • Highlights at this upscale soul food joint include the twice-dredged fried chicken and the shrimp and grits. Shareables include perch fritters, okra fries, and a Georgian Hummus that substitutes black-eyed peas for chickpeas. There’s also a great bar. 1431 Times Square, Detroit; 313-926-0783. D Tue.-Sat.

Savant $$$

FRENCH • In a cozy-yet-upscale interior with leather couches and an open kitchen, Jordan Whitmore and Rebecca Wurster, formerly of Apparatus Room, serve up rotating European-inspired menu items, including Champagne Chicken, an Apple and Arugula Heirloom Salad, Calamari, and — for vegan diners — Ratatouille Confit. 51 W. Forest Ave., Detroit; 313-285-9294.

D Fri.-Sat.

Scotty Simpson’s Fish & Chips $

SEAFOOD • Head to this Brightmoor spot for perfectly prepared fish and chips. The key to Scotty’s longevity is the batter that coats the cod, perch, shrimp, chicken, onion rings, and frog legs. 22200 Fenkell St., Detroit; 313-533-0950. L,D Tue.-Sat.

Second Best $

RETRO AMERICAN • The talents behind nearby Grey Ghost have unveiled a second, more casual spot with a retro spin in Brush Park. The menu of lighter dishes includes the Yogi Gyro with roasted root vegetable and coconut tzatziki, and fried chicken sandwiches that accompany drinks that were popular more than a few years back. 42 Watson St., Detroit; 313-315-3077. L Sat.-Sun., D nightly.

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR

Selden Standard $$$

NEW AMERICAN What sets Selden Standard apart is that it is moving Detroit into a new era in which upperend dining with starched linen and tuxedoed waiters doesn’t hold much interest anymore. Chef Andy Hollyday, a multiple James Beard semifinalist, does farm-to-

RESTAURANT LISTINGS 08.23

table scratch cooking with ideas borrowed from around the world. A key to his cooking is the wood-fired grill. This spot has garnered national attention. 3921 Second Ave., Detroit; 313-438-5055. D Wed.-Mon.

Seva Detroit $$

VEGETARIAN • Seva offers such dishes as black bean and sweet potato quesadillas, gluten-free options, and colorful stir-fries — some vegan as well as vegetarian. There’s also a full bar as well as a juice bar. 2541 Jackson Ave., Ann Arbor; 734-662-1111. 66 E. Forest Ave., Detroit; 313-974-6661. L,D Mon.-Sat.

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 

2020

SheWolf Pastificio & Bar $$$

ITALIAN • Chef Anthony Lombardo takes fresh and housemade to a new level with this Midtown restaurant that serves only dinner from a menu inspired by Italian cooking specific to Rome. Milling all of his own flour for his pastas, breads, and polenta in house, Lombardo, well known as the former executive chef at Bacco, serves a selection of simple but elegant regional Italian dishes. 438 Selden St., Detroit; 313-315-3992.

D Tue.-Sun

Slows Bar BQ $$

BARBEQUE • The brick-and-wood original in Corktown gained a following for its pulled pork, ribs, and chicken. They expanded with a “to go” spot in Midtown, as well. This is a true Detroit classic in every sense of the term. Corktown location: 2138 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-9629828. L,D daily. Slows To Go in Midtown: 4107 Cass Ave., Detroit; 313-309-7560. L,D Tue.-Sun.

Smith & Co. $$$

NEW AMERICAN • This Cass Corridor bar and restaurant is housed in the old Smith Welding Supply & Equipment Company building — hence cement ceilings and exposed brick that evoke an industrial vibe. The menu features small plates, sandwiches, and entrees such as mushroom toast; braised lamb shank; the fried chicken bowl with sweet sesame sauce and kimchi; and the Smith Burger, soy-ginger marinated and topped with a fried egg. Beverage options include craft beer, wine, and fresh takes on classic cocktails. 644 Selden St, Detroit; 313-6381695. D Wed.-Sun.

Standby $$

NEW AMERICAN • The libation menu — categorized by spirit — is longer than the food menu, but both food and drinks are equally emphasized. The fare ranges from small plates of marinated olives and tamari eggs to entrees such as grilled lamb kebabs and the house cheeseburger. 225 Gratiot Ave., Detroit; 313-241-5719. D Wed.-Sun. Not wheelchair accessible.

The Statler $$$$

FRENCH • A taste of Paris in downtown Detroit. This French-American bistro from the Joe Vicari Restaurant Group takes its name from the former historic Statler Hotel, which is now home to not only the bistro but also City Club Apartments. Classic French fare (with some modern twists) such as potted foie gras mousse; Henri Maire escargots (wild Burgundy snails, garlic butter fondue, parsley, Pernod, and profiteroles); and bouillabaisse provence (seafood stew with shrimp, scallops, lobster, mussels, saffron broth, croustade, and rouille) typify the menu. The large, year-round open-air outdoor patio offers stunning panoramic views of the Detroit skyline and Grand Circus Park. There’s also a neighborhood market where customers can grab groceries and gourmet packaged meals on the go. 313 Park Ave., Detroit; 313-463-7111. D Mon.Sat., BR Sun.

Supino Pizzeria $$

ITALIAN • Relax with one of the town’s best thin-crust pizzas — they come in more than a dozen variations, with or without red sauce. A few dishes from the La Rondinella menu made the list as well, such as paninis, salads, and small plates such as polpette and three delicious salads. Beer, wine, and cocktails add to the appeal. 2457 Russell St., Detroit; 313-567-7879. L,D Wed.-Sun.; 6519 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-314-7400. L,D Mon.-Sat.

Sweet Soul Bistro $

SOUL FOOD • The large menu includes homages to Detroit musicians, from Stevie Wonder Wonderful Wings to Aretha Franklin Catfish Bites. Also notable are the crab cakes. In the evening, the bistro transforms into a club. 13741 W. McNichols Road, Detroit; 313- 862-7685. L,D daily.

Tap at MGM Grand $

FEATURED Vertical De troit

WINE BAR

This wine-centric restaurant puts the focus on pairing chef Alex Knezevic’s innovative cuisine with owners James and Rémy Lutfy’s nationally recognized wine program. The menu emphasizes locally sourced protein, seafood, and produce. A must-try for any wine enthusiast.

1538 Centre St., Detroit; 313-7329463. D Tue.-Sat. Not wheelchair accessible.

SPORTS BAR • More than 40 HD flatscreen TVs for sports fans, plus sports memorabilia. The menu features comfort food and pub classics: burgers, wings, and house nachos. Pizza and more upscale entrees are also available, as are more than 50 beers. Bring your family and friends for a very entertaining night on the town. 1777 Third St., Detroit; 313-465-1234. D daily.

Takoi $$

THAI • Thai-Laotian fare might seem out of place in Corktown, but virtually everything on the menu has distinction. There’s a depth, concentration, and balance between heat and coolness, the range of spices, the delight of moving from one superb bite to the next. 2520 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-855-2864. D Tue.-Sat.

Townhouse $$$

NEW AMERICAN • The downtown hotspot in 2021 underwent an aesthetic overhaul of the space and menu designed to elevate the spot’s signature comfort food fare. Staples, like the burger and fries, remain on the menu, but there are also fine-dining-inspired additions, like the caviar-topped crispy potato dish and the A5 wagyu with garlic, shallot rings, and grilled chicory. 500 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-723-1000. L, D Mon.-Sun.

Trattoria Serventi $$

ITALIAN • The brick pizza oven turns out an array of thin-crust pizzas and there’s an interesting daytime menu that offers a real bargain. In the evening, such dishes as scallopini style veal, and gnocchi alla palmina, recalling chef Aldo Ottaviani — who was instrumental in setting up the original Andiamo menu — typify the style. 20930 Mack Ave., Grosse Pointe Woods; 313-886-9933. D Wed.-Mon.

Urban Ramen $$

JAPANESE-INSPIRED • Urban Ramen serves bowls of steaming broth filled with house-made, springy ramen noodles topped with fixings like bamboo, egg, pork chashu, and sesame seeds. The menu also includes poke, salads, and sides such as garlic edamame and Japanese fried chicken. 4206 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-285-9869. L,D Mon.-Sun.

Vicente’s Cuban Cuisine $$

CUBAN • An evening at this lively spot is more than just Cuban and Spanish dining. Appetizers and tapas include the outstanding Tapa de la Casa, pork leg marinated in mojo; a Spanish chorizo and fresh mushrooms concoction with garlic lemon sauce; and empanadas, a Cuban turnover filled with ground beef or chicken. 1250 Library St., Detroit; 313-962-8800. L,D daily.

Vivio’s Food & Spirits $

SANDWICH/DELI • This Eastern Market classic has been run by the Vivio family for more than 40 years. Sandwiches and burgers are mainstays, but diners also appreciate the steamed mussels. 3601 Twelve

Mile Road, Warren; 586-576-0495. L,D daily.

The Whitney $$$$ NEW AMERICAN • The historic 1890s mansion is still going strong. The menu is typified by classic beef Wellington, wrapped in spinach, prosciutto, and pastry; and pan-roasted Scottish salmon. Tableside cooking, by reservation only, is an optional feature. Don’t forget The Katherine McGregor Dessert Parlor for a sweet treat.4421 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-832-5700. D Wed.-Sun and high tea Sat.-Sun.

Wine Dotte Bistro $$

WINE BAR This interesting wine bar and restaurant offers a view of the Detroit River. The menu includes coconut shrimp, lobster tails, tenderloin medallions, and lamb chops. The wine is displayed in a cabinet across one wall and it’s the main focus. 2910 Van Alstyne St., Wyandotte; 734-556-3195. L,D Tue.-Sun.

Wright & Co. $$

NEW AMERICAN • The collaboration between chef Marc Djozlija and Dave Kwiatkowski of the popular Corktown craft cocktail bar Sugar House gives new life to the second-floor space in the Wright Kay building. Small plates such as tuna tartare with pickled pears, and pork belly sliders with tomato jam and sriracha aioli are the focus. 1500 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-9627711. D Tue.-Sun.

Yum Village $

AFRO-CARIBBEAN The former food truck opened a full-service restaurant in the North End in 2019. The space is bright and fun with wooden tables, mismatched chairs, and a colorful, geometric paint job. And the food is just as bold. The restaurant serves up piquant dishes like Lemon Pepper Jerk Chicken. 6500 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-334-6099. L,D Mon.-Sat.

Oakland

168 Crab & Karaoke $$

PAN-ASIAN • Don’t judge by 168 Crab & Karaoke’s unassuming strip mall location. It’s a unique experience that meshes food, karaoke, and pop party culture into a one-stop destination. As the name suggests, seafood is the main attraction here, specifically the seafood boils, which come with your choice of seafood (crab, clams, lobster, etc.), with sauce and corn and potatoes. 32415 John R Road, Madison Heights; 248616-0168. D daily.

220 Merrill $$$

NEW AMERICAN • The menu includes apps and small plates as well as Wagyu beef carpaccio, ahi tuna tartare, and classic roasted oysters. There are heartier entrees as well, like the braised beef short ribs. 220 Merrill St., Birmingham; 248-646-2220. L,D Mon.-Sat. BR Sun.

Adachi $$$

JAPANESE-INSPIRED • Heading the kitchen is Lloyd Roberts, who has trained in the kitchens of celebrity chefs such as Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Nobu Matsuhisa. Here, soy truffle broth is ladled over pork dumplings reminiscent of coin purses, and miniature tacos are filled with lobster, tuna, or vegetable pickings. 325 S. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham; 248540-900. L,D daily.

Andiamo $$

ITALIAN • Over the past three decades, Joe Vicari has established several Andiamo restaurants in metro Detroit, all inspired by the late master chef Aldo Ottaviani’s philosophy of seasonal, from-scratch cooking. The menus differ slightly at the different locations, but the constant is the fresh, housemade pastas —

handcrafted by the trinity of “pasta ladies,” Anna, Tanya, and Angelina, who have carried on the tradition. 6676 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield; 248-865-9300. L,D Mon.-Fri., D Sat.-Sun.

Anita’s Kitchen $

LEBANESE • With pita pizzas and lamb chops, the Lebanese food here is some of the best around. And there’s vegetarian and gluten-free fare, too. Healthy, nutritious, and delicious. See website for locations; anitaskitchen.com

Assaggi Bistro $$$

ITALIAN • Seasonal offers encompassing rustic Italian, country French, and authentic Lebanese are all created in the open kitchen. Standouts include Moroccan duck legs, porcini-dusted day boat sea scallops, and cioppino (seafood stew). 330 W. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale; 248584-3499 D Wed.-Sat.

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR  2005

Bacco Restaurante $$$

ITALIAN • Chef-owner Luciano Del Signore’s pastas are like pure art. Try the Strozzapreti Norcina: Italian sausage, truffles, tomato, and white wine, tossed in hand-rolled pasta. From local grass-fed beef to sustainably farm-raised sea bass to a fresh caprese, the ingredients are top-end. Based in the heart of Southfield, Bacco is a true Italian gem in the suburbs. And the desserts, are not to be missed. 29410 Northwestern Hwy., Southfield; 248-356-6600. L Tue.-Fri. D Tue.-Sat.

Bar Verona $$

ITALIAN • Modernized, made-from-scratch Italian favorites curated by Chef Salvatore Borgia as well as fresh craft cocktails fill the menu at this stylish eatery. Homemade pastas, such as Giuseppe’s, as well as a selection of steaks and seafood dishes typify the contemporary approach to fresh and uncomplicated Italian cuisine. 59145 Van Dyke Ave., Washington; (586) 473-0700; 248-387-5400. D daily.

Bella Piatti $$

ITALIAN • The location right across from the Townsend Hotel has inspired a number of visiting celebrities, professional athletes, and film crews who stay there to check out the Italian fare at this restaurant. The menu of such dishes as Gemelli pasta with fresh tomato sauce, salmon baked with spinach, kalamata olives, white wine, and tomatoes, and tagliatelle Bolognese stands on its own. It’s one of our true favorites in the area in terms of Italian restaurants. 167 Townsend St., Birmingham; 248-494-7110. D Tue.-Sat.

Bi Bim Bab $$

KOREAN • Though sushi and a small selection of Japanese entrees share the bill here, it’s Korean food at center stage — on barbecue grills, on which meat and seafood are grilled to order. Or come for the restaurant’s namesake. 43155 Main St., Novi; 248-3486800. L,D Wed.-Mon.

Bigalora: Wood Fired Cucina $$

ITALIAN • The pizza concept from chef Luciano Del Signore, a four-time James Beard Award nominee, features small plates, fresh pastas, wood-roasted meats, and a range of distinctive Neopolitan pizzas. See website for locations; bigalora.com

Birmingham Pub $$$

GASTROPUB • This stylish yet casual gastropub from the Joe Vicari Restaurant Group took over the former Triple Nickel space. True to its name, the restaurant’s bill of fare features pub classics taken up a notch, such as Alaskan cod butter roasted with everythingbagel crust and filet mignon with Parmesan truffle fries and zip sauce. There are also TVs at the bar so

you won’t miss a minute of the game. 555 S. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham; 248-885-8108. L Sun, Tue.-Fri., D Tue.-Sun.

Bistro Joe’s $$$

GLOBAL Part of Papa Joe’s Gourmet Market, Bistro Joe’s is in a mezzanine overlooking the open kitchen and market. There is an eclectic list of dishes like spicy tuna “tacushi,” steamed mussels, and tasty flatbread pizzas. 34244 Woodward Ave., Birmingham; 248-5940984. L,D Tue.-Sun.

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR

 2003

Café Cortina $$$

ITALIAN • Selections include prosciutto di Parma stuffed with greens and mozzarella; squid sautéed with fresh pomodori; gnocchi with porcini mushrooms; and meaty prawns finished with lemon, white wine, and herbs. For dessert, try the crepes 30715 W. 10 Mile Road, Farmington Hills; 248-474-3033. L Sun., D Tue.-Sun.

Café ML $$

NEW AMERICAN • Café ML is contemporary in décor and its “globally inspired food.” Such dishes as short rib steamed buns, Chinese chicken salad, Singapore street noodles, and Korean fried chicken share the menu with burgers, steak frites, and fresh seafood. Garage door-style windows open onto the patio on warm days. 3607 W. Maple Road, Bloomfield Township; 248-642-4000. D daily.

Capital Grille $$$

STEAKHOUSE Hand-cut, dry-aged steaks and fresh seafood dishes are the stars at Capital Grille. The restaurant’s outstanding wine list features over 350 labels. The setting is appropriate for both business lunches and social events and includes wellappointed private dining rooms. 2800 W. Big Beaver Road, Troy; 248-649-5300. L,D daily.

Casa Pernoi $$$$

ITALIAN • Three months after its grand opening, what once was a multi-hyphenate concept, blending French, Asian, and Italian cuisine, soon defaulted simply to a cuisine most familiar to chef Luciano DelSignore: Italian. Housemade pastas rolled by hand, chicken parmesan, and a meaty branzino typify the menu. A cannoli cake layers sweet ricotta atop a spongy cake and a base of dark chocolate reminiscent of a Nestle Crunch Bar. 310 E. Maple Road, Birmingham; 248-940-0000. D Tue.-Sat.

Churchill’s Bistro & Cigar Bar $$$

TRADITIONAL • You can buy your cigar and smoke it too. Plus, enjoy dry-aged steaks, pan-roasted sea bass, seasonal East Coast oysters, and lamb chops, among other options. A full bar boasts a large selection of whiskey, scotch, and bourbon — and plenty of wine. 116 S. Old Woodward, Birmingham; 248-6474555. L,D daily.

Como’s $$

NEW AMERICAN • This Ferndale favorite reopened in May 2019 under the ownership of Peas & Carrots Hospitality with a trendier, fresher look. The warm, homey feel is still intact, but it’s ditched the old menu for — among other things — chef Zack Sklar’s square, deep-dish, Detroit-style pizza that’s leavened from a sourdough starter as opposed to commercial yeast. 22812 Woodward Ave., Unit 100., Ferndale; 248-677-4439. L,D daily.

Cornbread Restaurant & Bar $$ SOUL In 1997, Patrick Coleman melded his experience in fine dining with his grandma’s southern roots to create Beans & Cornbread Soulful Bistro. It racked up

RESTAURANT LISTINGS 08.23

accolades and fans over the years, including Stevie Wonder and Thomas (Hitman) Hearns. Cornbread is the sequel to Beans and Cornbread, continuing the tradition of soul food with an upscale twist. Classics like catfish and a gravy-smothered pork chop endure. 29852 Northwestern Hwy., Southfield; 248-208-1680. L,D Thu.Tue.

Crispelli’s Bakery Pizzeria $ ITALIAN-INSPIRED • This hybrid offers artisanal pizzas from a brick oven, salads, paninis, and soups. A bakery offers crusty breads, desserts, and meals to go. Two patios add to the appeal. See website for locations; crispellis.com

Culantro $$

PERUVIAN • Native Peruvian Betty Shuell brings a taste of her home to Ferndale. The casual, homey, seat-yourself establishment is named after an herb that is often used in traditional Peruvian cooking. An especially notable dish is the Pollo a la Brasa, marinated chicken served with French fries, rice, and a variety of dipping sauces. 22939 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; 248-632-1055. L,D daily.

Diamond’s Steak & Seafood $$$

STEAKHOUSE • This Howell restaurant is the perfect location for ribeye, fresh gulf shrimp, or a classic cheeseburger. Plus, weekends boast a buffet-style brunch. 101 W. Grand River Ave., Howell; 517-548-5500. D Tue.-Sat.

Eddie’s Gourmet $$

FEATURED Beverly Hills Grill

NEW AMERICAN

This Beverly Hills institution has built a loyal following over the years with its California vibe and dawn-to-dark schedule. Brunch is back Wednesday through Sunday, and the menu still features the fresh and innovative fare that put it on the map. 31471 Southfield Road, Beverly Hills; 248-642-2355. B,L Sun., D Mon.-Tue., B,BR,L,D Wed.-Sat.

NEW AMERICAN • Chef Eddie Hanna’s gourmet diner is a simple concept that works to perfection. The menu offers standard selection of breakfast items, burgers, sandwiches, and lunch specials, but the real draw is the counter-side gourmet and pasta specials. Offerings include Veal Marsala and Chicken Milano. 25920 Greenfield Road, Oak Park; 248-968-4060. L,D Mon-Sat.

Elie’s Mediterranean Grill/Bar $$

LEBANESE • The lamb and chicken shawarma, shish kafta, kibbee nyeh, and other Lebanese dishes are emphasized by the décor, including photomurals of old Beirut and strings of blue beads cascading from the ceiling. A fun place to frequent for a quick lunch or a night out with friends. 263 Pierce St., Birmingham; 248-647-2420. L,D Mon.-Sat.

The Fed $$

GASTROPUB • An attractive restaurant with great food and a delightfully refreshing atmosphere. The menu crosses boundaries, from shareables, like Spanish Octopus and Wild Mushroom Crostini, to heartier fare, like Braised Lamb Pappardelle and Steak and Frites. Plus, the bright and airy bohemian-chic interior is highly Instagrammable. 15 S. Main St., Clarkston; 248-297-5833. D Wed.-Sat., B,L,D Sun.

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR  2009 Forest $$$

EUROPEAN-INSPIRED • The menu is brief but designed to let the kitchen assemble sharp flavors from various farm and market ingredients. Try the delightful pastas, like the Bolognese and the agnolotti, as well as the understated Farm Egg. 735 Forest Ave., Birmingham; 248-258-9400. D Tue.-Sat.

The Fly Trap

ECLECTIC AMERICAN • This “finer diner” typifies trendy Ferndale with its tin ceiling, red-topped tables, and counter with swivel stools. It offers sandwiches, salads, pastas, and omelets.22950 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; 248-399-5150. B,L Tue.-Sat.

Garage Grill & Fuel Bar $$

NEW AMERICAN • The car-themed rooms of a for-

mer 1940s gas station are as fresh and appealing as the dishes themselves. The kitchen serves up a variety of seafood starters and “full-size sedan” entrees, as well as pizzas. 202 W. Main St., Northville, 248-9243367. D Wed.-Sun., BR Sat.-Sun.

Gran Castor $$

LATIN STREET

• From the duo behind hit spots like Vinsetta Garage and Union Woodshop comes this vibrant Latin-American café and restaurant.Diners can choose to sit behind one of the two bars, a cozy café, or in the 245-seat dining room all decked in colorful textiles. At Gran Castor, the dining room is equally as decadent as the food and drinks served. Grab a $5 margarita between 4 p.m.-6 p.m. daily. 2950 Rochester Road, Troy; 248-278-7777. D Wed.-Mon.

Hazel’s $$

SEAFOOD • What was once multiple concepts under one roof named after the three neighborhoods that converged right where the restaurant stands (Hazel, Ravine and Downtown) is now simply Hazel’s. The casual and comfortable restaurant specializes in authentic dishes, drinks, and vibes from some of the country’s top seafood destinations. Here you’ll find dishes like Maine-caught lobster, Maryland Blue Crab, and more. 1 Peabody St., Birmingham; 248-671-1714. D Tue.-Sun., B,L Sat.-Sun.

Honcho $

LATIN FUSION • From the owners of Vinsetta Garage and Union Woodshop, this restaurant can be described as “Latin food that speaks with an Asian accent.” Menu items include a chicken burrito fried and tossed in a soy fish sauce and Korean pork tacos, featuring Woodshop pulled pork tossed in Korean BBQ sauce and topped with toasted sesame seeds and Malay radish slaw. 3 E. Church St., Clarkston; 248-707-3793. L,D daily.

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 

2002

Hong Hua $

CHINESE • One of the best area restaurants dedicated to Asian food offers some rare delicacies — shark’s fin and bird’s nest soups, fresh abalone — as well as more customary items. One signature dish is stir-fried yellow grouper fillet with vegetables. 27925 Orchard Lake Road, Farmington Hills; 248-489-2280. L,D Tue.-Sun.

Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse $$$$

STEAKHOUSE • This plush modern steakhouse offers dry-aged prime and Kobe-style wagyu beef in a fun, clubby setting. An extensive wine list accompanies the restaurant menu that also features platters of chilled fresh seafood. 201 S. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham; 248-594-4369. D daily. 17107 Haggerty Road, Northville Twp.; 248-679-0007. D Tue.-Sat.

Imperial $

MEXICAN-INSPIRED • The menu offers Californiastyle tacos on soft tortillas, including lime-grilled chicken, carnitas, and marinated pork, as well as slowroasted pork tortas, and guacamole. 22828 Woodward Ave., Ferndale, 248-850-8060. L,D daily, BR Sun.

Joe Muer $$$$

SEAFOOD • The Bloomfield Hills location of the iconic restaurant continues the tradition of excellent food, service, and ambiance. The menu emphasizes classic fresh fish and “Muer Traditions” such as Dover sole and Great Lakes Yellow Belly Perch. There’s also a raw and sushi bar as well as premium steaks. And make sure to save room for dessert, because the coconut cake is not to be missed. A piano bar adds to the ambience. 39475 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills; 248-792-9609. D daily.

Kaizen Ramen $

JAPANESE • A downtown Royal Oak space with exposed ductwork, orange booths, and a lively, floor-to-ceiling, black-and-white robot mural may not seem like the obvious choice for authentic Asian noodles. But this casual spot offers a variety of vegan and meat-based ramen dishes, as well as gyoza, poke, spring rolls, and karaage — Japanese-style fried chicken. Don’t skip out on desserts like mochi ice cream and cheesecake tempura. 411 S. Washington Ave., Royal Oak; 248-677-1236. L,D Mon.-Sat.

Lao Pot $$$

CHINESE • In 2019, the owners of Madison Heights’ international market 168 Asian Mart opened Lao Pot, which specializes in Chinese Hot Pot cuisine. Hot Pot is a traditional method of cooking, using a pot of simmering broth, which sits in the center of the dining table. Lao Pot allows diners to customize and cook their meals right at their tables, combining great food and a memorable experience. 32707 John R. Road, Madison Heights; 248-689-9888. L,D daily.

FEATURED J-Bird Smoked Meats

BARBEQUE

Offering woodsmoked meats served with the traditional sides of cornbread, buttermilk slaw, and mac and cheese, popular dishes include the Three Meat Sampler and JBird Gumbo, as well as St. Louis Ribs and old-fashioned JBurgers. If you love meat, this is your place.

1978 Cass Lake Road, Keego Harbor; 248-681-2124.

D Tue.-Sun.

La Strada Dolci e Caffé $

ITALIAN • A slice of European elegance offers an impeccable little menu of Italian dishes and rich coffees and espresso. Paninis, delicious fresh green salads, hearty minestrone soup, pastas, pizzas, and decadent and artistically crafted pastries are prettily served and very tasty. 243 E. Merrill St., Birmingham; 248-480-0492. D Tue.-Sat.

Lellis Inn $$

ITALIAN • Dinners begin with an antipasto tray, creamy minestrone, salad, side dish of spaghetti, and then — nine times out of 10 — a filet mignon with zip sauce. 885 N. Opdyke Road, Auburn Hills; 248-3734440. L Mon.-Fri. D daily.

Loccino Italian Grill $$

ITALIAN • Loccino is a “family-friendly” yet upscale Italian restaurant. Choose from fresh seafood, steak, chicken, and veal dishes, plus traditional pastas, pizzas, salads, and more. They also offer happy hour specials from 3-7 p.m. weekdays. A great special occassion place or delicious workday lunch spot for whevener you need a break from the office. 5600 Crooks Road, Troy; 248-813-0700. L Mon.-Fri., D daily.

Lockhart’s BBQ $$

BARBEQUE • The heart of this joint’s authentic barbecue is the dry-rubbed meat smoker, which can smoke up to 800 pounds of meat at a time. Choices such as pork ribs, pulled pork, beef brisket, burnt ends, and chicken are served atop butcher paper on metal trays for the true experience. 202 E. Third St., Royal Oak; 248-584-4227. L,D daily. BR Sun.

Loui’s Pizza $

ITALIAN • Sure, you can now get a Michigan craft beer, but not much else has changed. And that’s a good thing. Parties dine on square pizzas with crisp crust, faintly charred around the edges. Hailed by food critics and Detroiters alike as one of the city’s most classic Detroit style pizzas, it’s well worth a trip. 23141 Dequindre Road, Hazel Park; 248-547-1711. L,D Thu.-Sun.

Luxe Bar & Grill $$

NEW AMERICAN • The simple menu at this Grosse Pointe Farms joint offers burgers on brioche buns and interesting salads and sides, as well as entrees typified by wild-caught salmon, prime filet, and Greekstyle lamb chops. 525 N. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham; 248-792-6051. 115 Kercheval Ave., Grosse Pointe Farms; 313-924-5459. L,D daily.

Mabel Gray $$$

NEW AMERICAN • Chef James Rigato produces some masterful dishes on this tiny menu, which does not miss a beat. The menu includes a multi-course tasting option, as well as a daily listing of changing items that never disappoint. It’s a fine dining experience that is certainly worth a visit. 23825 John R Road, Hazel Park; 248-398-4300. D Tue.-Sat.

Mad Hatter Bistro, Bar & Tea Room $$ ECLECTIC AMERICAN • The whimsical setting inspired by Alice in Wonderland welcomes far more than the tea-sipping set with burgers and sandwiches, rabbit Porchetta, truffle risotto bites, and baked brie with pistachio, honey, and pomegranate. There are also pastries, of course. 185 N. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham; 248-540-0000. B,L Thu.-Sun., D Fri.-Sat. Tea by reservation. Lower level not wheelchair accessible.

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR  2023

Madam $$$

NEW AMERICAN • Since opening in 2021, Madam has carved its niche with its global take on farm-totable cuisine, taking diners on a tour from Michigan to Asia to Europe. Staples from chef de cuisine Clifton Booth include mushroom dumplings, Spanish octopus, steak frites, and pasta dishes. 298 S. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham; 248-283-4200. B,D daily, L Mon.-Fri., BR Sat.-Sun.

Mare Mediterranean $$$$

SEAFOOD • Inspired by restaurants in Sicily where the catch of the day is the basis of dinner, this sophisticated restaurant from Nino Cutraro and his partner offers the freshest seafood flown in from the Mediterranean several times a week. You select the type of fish you want from the market in front of the open kitchen and how you want it prepared (acqua pazza, salt baked, grilled, or pan fried). It’s then served tableside in glorious fashion. Not to be missed are the Mare Tower and moussaka. It’s a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach. 115 Willits St., Birmingham; 248-940-5525. D Tue.-Sat.

Market North End $$

AMERICAN • Joe and Kristin Bongiovanni opened this eatery just across the street from the family’s existing restaurants, Salvatore Scallopini and Luxe Bar & Grill. It represents a younger, more casual alternative to the cult-favorite classics, with a serious kitchen that offers traditional American dishes as well as hints of global influences. 474 N. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham; 248-712-4953. L,D daily.

The Meeting House $$

ECLECTIC AMERICAN • This eclectic American menu includes Gulf Shrimp Gratin, steak frites remarkably close to those at Paris bistros, and a housemade soft pretzel with roasted jalapeno-goat cheese dip. Or, try the beef short rib with shawarma spices, pistachio basmati, and pickled vegetables. 301 S. Main St., Rochester; 248-759-4825. D daily, BR Sat.-Sun.

Mesa Tacos And Tequila $

MEXICAN-AMERICAN • The two-story setting includes balcony seating in a big, open room where the bar gets equal time with the kitchen. The pop-Mexican menu — which includes guacamole, nachos, and the titular tacos — is backed up with an array of tequilas. 312 S. Main St., Royal Oak; 248-545-1940. L & D daily.

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 

2008

Mon Jin Lau $$

ASIAN-FUSION • Explore such dishes as Singapore noodles, combining chicken, shrimp, chilies, and curry with angel-hair pasta; Mongolian beef; or seared scallops with lemongrass-basil Thai curry sauce. The patio

“At Antoine Salon, we are a team of dedicated professionals with an array of loyal clients. We have created a salon that is at the forefront of hairdressing trends and techniques. We have perfected a relaxing, friendly environment while maintaining the highest level of professionalism.”

2838 W Maple Rd, Troy, MI 48084 248-822-8115 | antoinesalonoftroy.com

THE ULTIMATE BOOK ABOUT DETROIT’S HISTORY

For author presentations, call 248-691-1800, Ext. 135

Explore the latest book from award-winning journalist and DBusiness magazine editor R.J. King. “Detroit: Engine of America” is the real life story of how the city grew, step by step, from a French fort on the riverfront in 1701 to become the world’s largest manufacturing economy in 1900.

To purchase copies of “Detroit: Engine of America” personally signed by the author, visit DetroitEngineofAmerica.com.

Audiobook Now Available on Audible

RESTAURANT LISTINGS 08.23

RECIPE

THE KITCHEN B Y COOKING WITH QUE’S ROASTED BEET SALAD

PHOTO BY REBECCA SIMONOV

Directions

Crunchy Chickpeas

1. Preheat oven to 425 F.

2. Drain the can of chickpeas and mix on a sheet tray with pepper and garlic powder.

3. Roast for 15-20 minutes until crunchy.

Cashew Cream

1. Soak the cashews in enough water to cover them overnight. In a pinch, you can soak the cashews by placing them in boiling water until softened.

2. Drain the cashews and place in blender along with the remaining ingredients. Blend until very smooth, scraping down the sides and adjusting seasoning as necessary.

Lemon Oregano Salad Dressing

1. Combine all ingredients except for the olive oil in a bowl and mix.

2. While whisking vigorously, slowly add in the olive oil until the dressing is emulsified. Taste and adjust seasoning as necessary.

Roasted Beet Salad

1. Preheat oven to 400 F.

2. Boil beets in a large pot until tender. Allow to cool fully before peeling off the skin.

3. Cut beets into wedges and mix into a bowl with the olive oil and salt.

4. Roast beets for 15-20 minutes, until they are nicely browned.

5. For the salad, toss a portion of the roasted beets with a teaspoon of the lemon oregano dressing.

6. To build the salad, toss the spring mix with 3 tablespoons of the dressing (a little goes a long way).

7. Take a spoonful of the cashew cream and smear it across the bottom of the plate. Add the dressed spring mix and top with the roasted beets, crunchy chickpeas, sliced watermelon radish, and sliced scallions. Enjoy!

Ingredients

Vegan Roasted Beet Salad

4 red and golden beets

2 ½ tablespoons olive oil

¼ teaspoon salt

1 container spring mix

1 watermelon radish, sliced

2 scallions, sliced

Crunchy Chickpeas (recipe below)

Cashew Cream (recipe below)

Lemon Oregano Dressing (recipe below)

Crunchy Chickpeas

1 can chickpeas

½ teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon garlic powder

Cashew Cream

2 cups raw cashews

1 lemon, juiced

2 tablespoons nutritional yeast

²/³ cup water

1 tablespoon salt

2 teaspoons minced garlic

Lemon Oregano Salad Dressing

1 cup fresh lemon juice

¼ cup white wine vinegar

4 teaspoons Dijon mustard

2 teaspoons sea salt

2 teaspoons black pepper

4 teaspoons garlic powder

4 teaspoons dried oregano

1 cup extra virgin olive oil

opens up and the dining room transforms into a dance floor for weekly events. 1515 E. Maple Road, Troy; 248-689-2332. L Mon.-Fri., D daily.

The Morrie $$

NEW AMERICAN • Music and munchies can be a great combination when served in the right proportions. Such offerings as the smoked chicken wings, smoked apple burnt ends and Detroit style pizza, as well as the requisite burger and steak, appeal to a wide demographic. The rock’n’roll-themed eatery also brought its much-loved American dishes and cocktails to Birmingham in 2019. 511 S. Main St., Royal Oak; 248-216-1112. D daily. 260 N. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham; 248-940-3260. L,D Mon.Fri., B,L,D Sat.-Sun. BR Sat.-Sun.

Oak City Grille $

NEW AMERICAN • This downtown Royal Oak spot bridges the gap between bar food and upscale dining. Order a dressed-up sandwich or burger, or elevate your dining experience with an 8-ounce filet mignon or lamb chops. The friendly price range makes anything possible. 212 W. Sixth St., Royal Oak; 248-5560947. D Tue.-Sun.

Ocean Prime $$$$

SEAFOOD • An upper-end steak-and-fish place and a popular business lunch site. The menu features naturally harvested fresh fish and prime aged beef. Don’t miss the chocolate peanut butter pie or the carrot cake. A tried-and-true metro Detroit spot. 2915 Coolidge Hwy., Troy; 248-458-0500. L Mon.-Fri., D daily.

One-Eyed Betty’s $$

ECLECTIC AMERICAN • Picnic-style tables and blackboards lettered with scores of brew choices add a beer-hall sensibility to this popular spot. The kitchen delivers New Orleans-themed dishes such as Chicken Tchoupitoulas with tasso ham and bearnaise sauce, as well as a mouth-watering bacon burger. Weekend brunch features delicious housemade doughnuts. 175 W. Troy St., Ferndale; 248808-6633. D daily, BR Sat.-Sun.

O.W.L. $

MEXICAN-AMERICAN • This Royal Oak spot offers sustenance for the early birds to the night owls. Step up to the counter and order from the letterboard menu before grabbing a stool at the counter or along the window ledge. Dishes here include such diner musts as eggs, sausage and potato hash, burgers, and chicken wings as well as tacos and nachos served from the open kitchen. 27302 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak; 248-808-6244. B, L,D daily.

Phoenicia $$$

LEBANESE • This long-standing upscale Lebanese eatery has clean, contemporary lines that complement the French door-style windows. Don’t miss the morel mushrooms or roasted garlic cloves with tomato and basil as an appetizer. The menu expands to unexpected items such as baby back ribs and singleserving-sized local whitefish. 588 S. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham; 248-644-3122. L Mon.-Fri., D daily., BR Sun.

Pinky’s Rooftop $$

ECLECTIC AMERICAN • With its second-floor view of downtown Royal Oak, Pinky’s Rooftop is a go-to spot for a night on the town. The name hearkens back to a Detroit restaurant and speakeasy on the east side that was called Pinky’s Boulevard Club (and the fact that everything is pink). The playful and eclectic menu offers a taste of a little bit of everything, from Kasseri Saganaki to Red Chile Beef Taco. It’s part of the Adam Merkel Restaurants group, which includes Howell hot spots The Silver Pig, Cello Italian, and Dia-

mond’s Steak & Seafood. 100 S. Main St. Rear, Royal Oak, 248-268-2885. D Tues.-Sun. Br. Sat.-Sun.

Pop’s For Italian $$ ITALIAN • It doesn’t sound fancy, but this Ferndale restaurant serves well-prepared, Italian dishes paired with an ambitious wine program. The fairly brief menu starts with a list of Neapolitan pizzas, then moves to pastas, but has all the classics to hit the spot. There are charcuterie boards and Italian desserts, too. 280 W. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale; 248-2684806. D Tue.-Sun.

Prime29 Steakhouse $$$$ STEAKHOUSE • The 29-day aged prime beef, including the 24-ounce tomahawk bone-in rib-eye, still stars here. There’s also Chilean sea bass, Loch Duart salmon, and lamb chops with lobster fried rice. The service is notable, as is the Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator. 6545 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield; 248-737-7463. D Tue.-Sun.

Public House $$ NEW AMERICAN/VEGAN This Ferndale spot reopened under new ownership and with a refreshed look in late 2021. Standout selections include its burgers, sharable plates like barbecued carrots, and craft cocktails and mocktails. It also features a special vegan menu and carries plenty of gluten-free options. 241 W. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale; 248-733-4905. D daily., BR Sat.-Sun.

Quán Ngon Vietnamese Bistro $ VIETNAMESE • This gem of a bistro in a hand-some space adds to the local Vietnamese offerings. Dishes such as cha gio (elegant little eggrolls), bun bo nuong sa (grilled steak atop angel-hair rice noodles), and banh mi made with fresh ingredients. 30701 Dequindre Road, Madison Heights; 248-2684310. L,D Fri.-Wed

Redcoat Tavern $

BURGERS • The half-pound choice beef hamburger is always atop the list of local favorites. But a low-fat, high-flavor Piedmontese beef one is tastier than the original. This is the place for your burger craving. 31542 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak; 248-549-0300. 6745 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield Township; 248-865-0500. L,D Mon.-Sat.

Rochester Chop House $$ NEW AMERICAN • Two restaurants in one; Kabin Kruser’s and the Chop House. There’s a throwback roadhouse-style feeling about the Chop House, which has a menu divided between red meat and fresh fish and seafood. Signature dishes include calamari, Maryland jumbo lump crabcakes, and a large selection of aged steaks, rack of lamb, and steak/seafood combinations. 306 S. Main St., Rochester; 248-6512266. L Mon.-Fri., D daily

Ronin $$

JAPANESE • The sushi menu, ranging from spicy tuna rolls to yellowtail and salmon eggs and well beyond, is augmented by a concise menu of cooked fare. Front windows open onto the sidewalk, making the cocktail lounge open-air during the warm months. 326 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak; 248-546-0888. D daily.

Silver Spoon $$ ITALIAN • This quintessential slice of Italy features excellent food, knowledgeable staff, and friendly service. Try the bucatini made with pancetta, onion, red wine, and fresh tomato sauce. Also worth trying: saltimbocca alla Romana, or veal scaloppini sautéed in white wine. A truly delicious place for any kind of outing. 543 N. Main St., Rochester; 248-652-4500. D Mon.-Sat.

THE KITCHEN BY COOKING WITH QUE 6529 WOODWARD AVE., SUITE A, DETROIT 313-462-4184 THEKITCHENBYCWQ.COM

RESTAURANT LISTINGS 08.23

Social Kitchen & Bar

$$$

NEW AMERICAN • The energetic Birmingham spot allows guests a view of the kitchen action. It has a creative and varied menu typified by falafel lettuce wraps, fried chicken sandwiches, crispy Brussels sprouts, and salmon with braised lentils, crispy kale, and a mustard vinaigrette. 225 E. Maple Road, Birmingham; 248-5944200. L Mon.-Fri., D daily, BR Sat.-Sun.

Sozai

JAPANESE To truly experience Sozai, you have to reserve a seat at the custom-built sushi bar where chef Hajime Sato will curate a unique sustainable sushi dining experience called omakase. There’s also a menu offering crowd pleasures like chicken karaage and rolls featuring familiar ingredients with tuna, jalapeno and avocado. 449 W. 14 Mile Road, Clawson; 248677-3232. D Tues.-Sat.

Streetside Seafood $$

SEAFOOD • Small and cozy yet sophisticated, the restaurant has a pared-down menu of fresh fish and seafood on a seasonal menu. There are always two soups: a bisque and a chowder. Favorites include the oysters and bouillabaisse. A delicious restaurant for all palates to enjoy and feel comfortable in. 273 Pierce St.Birmingham; 248-645-9123. L Mon.-Fri., D daily.

Sylvan Table $$$

NEW AMERICAN • With a working farm on the 5-acre property, Sylvan Table isn’t just talking the farm-totable talk. The restored 300-year-old barn feels grand and vast when you step into the stunning space, but it is homey, welcoming, and inviting. The menu changes often to reflect what’s growing but some of the staples include the trout — seasoned with herb oil, salt, and pepper, cooked over a wood-fired grill, and served whole — and Chicken Under a Brick, which is cooked to charred perfection. 1819 Inverness St., Sylvan Lake, 248-369-3360. D Mon.-Sun. Br. Sat.-Sun.

Tallulah Wine Bar & Bistro $$

WINE BAR • Understated décor and a pared-down menu of seasonal dishes make this spot a Birmingham classic. The kitchen turns out dishes like Lamb Belly Ragu with housemade pasta; and whole branzino with charred zucchini and romesco. Wine is served by the glass, the pitcher, or bottle. 155 S. Bates St., Birmingham; 248-731-7066. D Mon.-Sat.

Three Cats Restaurant $ BREAKFAST/BRUNCH • Formerly a small café serving customers of the boutique Leon & Lulu, Three Cats is now a full-fledged restaurant and bar. Located in the former Clawson movie theater next door to the shop, the spot serves small, simple plates, including vegetarian and vegan options for brunch, lunch, and dinner. The beverage menu features local selections, such as vodka from Ferndale’s Valentine’s Distilling Co. and wines from grapes grown on the Leelanau Peninsula. Patrons can even take home the colorful, quirky chairs or tables they’re dining at, as most of the furniture at Three Cats Restaurant is available for purchase. 116 W. 14 Mile Road, Clawson; 248-288-4858. L,D Mon.-Fri., B,L,D Sat.-Sun.

Toast, A Breakfast & Lunch Joint $

BREAKFAST/BRUNCH • It’s fun, it’s breezy, and the food at Toast, A Breakfast & Lunch Joint is very, very good. The house specialty smothered burrito has plenty of fans, as does huevos rancheros: fried eggs upon corn tortillas, pintos, and cheese. Toast, a Neighborhood Joint, the spinoff of the Ferndale original has a more elaborate setting pairing ’50s retro with sleek contemporary in a pair of rooms. The new menu features twists to comfort food. 23144 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; 248-398-0444. 203 Pierce St., Birmingham; 248-258-6278. B,L daily.

Toasted Oak $$$

BRASSERIE • The menu revolves around the charcuterie sold in the market next door and a list of hot grill items, such as grilled steaks with béarnaise sauce. In 2019, the restaurant earned a Wine Spectator magazine award for its outstanding wine program. Plus, just across the lot is Twelve Oaks Mall, should you fancy an evening of shopping and dinner. 27790 Novi Road, Novi; 248-277-6000. B Mon.-Fri., L,D Tue.-Sat.

Townhouse $$$

NEW AMERICAN • This popular Birmingham spot for comforting New American dishes has several exceptional offerings on its menu, such as the specialty 10 ounces of 28-day dry-aged beef hamburger on brioche. 180 Pierce St., Birmingham; 248-792-5241. L,D daily, BR Sat.-Sun. 500 Woodward Ave., Detroit;313-723-1000. D daily.

Union Woodshop $$

BARBEQUE • Part of the ever-growing Union Joints restaurant group, this is a self-described wood-fired joint, where pulled pork, ribs, chicken, and beef brisket come from the smoker, and Neapolitan-style crispcrusted pizzas from the wood-burning oven. And definitely check out the mac and cheese. There’s also a delicious kid’s menu for any youngsters in your party.

18 S. Main St., Clarkston; 248-625-5660. D Tue.-Sun.

Vinsetta Garage $$

FEATURED Take Sushi

JAPANESE

Crisp salads, miso soup garnished with the tiniest dice of tofu, sashimi and sushi, oversize bowls of soba or udon noodles, and all the familiar — and some not-sofamiliar — entrees combine together to make this spot special.

1366 Walton Blvd., Rochester Hills; 248-652-7800.

L,D Tue.-Sat., D Sun.

NEW AMERICAN • This restaurant, which is housed in a vintage car-repair shop, offers well-prepared comfort-food classics such as burgers served on pretzel buns, macaroni and cheese, the Chef Bowl with spaghetti and tomato basil sauce, pizzas, and brown sugar-glazed salmon. A restaurant that pays true homage to the city of Detroit. 27799 Woodward Ave., Berkley; 248-548-7711. L,D daily.

Voyager $$

SEAFOOD • Fresh seafood with emphasis on oysters is the premise in this hard-to-find location. The space entails convivially close quarters for such dishes as peel-n’-eat shrimp, chili crab spaghetti and grilled swordfish. The premium bar offers short but notable lists of beer and wine as well as craft cocktails. 600 Vester St., Ferndale; 248-658-4999. D Tue.-Sat.

Waves $$

SEAFOOD • Seafood covers most of the menu at this Nautical Mile favorite. It’s a tough task choosing between such popular appetizers as coconut shrimp, crispy grouper nuggets, and plump steamed mussels. Entrees include al dente pastas and several choices from “over the wave,” such as lamb chops and New York strip steak, plus lump crab cakes, and beer-battered cod. 24223 Jefferson Ave., St. Clair Shores; 586-773-3279. L,D daily.

Macomb

Andiamo $$

ITALIAN • Over the past three decades, Joe Vicari has established several Andiamo restaurants in metro Detroit, all inspired by the late master chef Aldo Ottaviani’s philosophy of seasonal, from-scratch cooking. Menus differ slightly between locations, but the constant is fresh, housemade pastas — handcrafted by the trinity of “pasta ladies,” Anna, Tanya, and Angelina, who have carried on the tradition. The Warren location is the flagship that started it all. 7096 14 Mile Road, Warren; 586-268-3200. L,D Mon.-Fri., D Sat.-Sun.

Barleycorn’s Public House $$

GASTROPUB • This casual spot offers a wide-ranging cocktail menu, craft beers, and elevated pub fare (try the Southerner, a buttermilk-soaked fried chicken, or the fish and chips). Located near Emagine theater, it’s an ideal spot to grab a burger and drinks before or after a movie. 50985 Hayes Road, Shelby Township; 586-271-8700. L,D Tue.-Fri., D Sat.-Sun.

Bar Verona $$

ITALIAN Scratch-made Italian favorites as well as fresh craft cocktails fill the menu at this stylish eatery. Homemade pastas, such as Giuseppe’s and Spaghetti al Basilico, and specialty pizzas, including The Verona and the Truffle Mushroom, as well as a selection of steaks and seafood dishes typify the modernized approach to fresh and uncomplicated Italian cuisine. 59145 Van Dyke Ave., Washington; 586-4730700. D daily.

Butter Run Saloon $

GASTROPUB • Solid American fare that’s beyond bar food (although their burgers are certainly noteworthy). There’s escargot, perch, steaks, and a huge whiskey selection — 900 at last count. 27626 Harper Ave., St. Clair Shores; 586-675-2115. L,D daily.

Da Francesco’s Ristorante & Bar $$ ITALIAN • Da Francesco’s has been around for more than 15 years, but its massive new facility is packing in the crowds by offering traditional Italian dining with an upbeat modern twist. 49521 Van Dyke Ave., Shelby Township; 586-731-7544. L,D Tue.-Fri., D Sat., L,D Sun.

Gaudino’s $$

ITALIAN • The trending market-restaurant combo has a good example at this spot. It offers imported pastas and sauces, plus a butcher counter with sausages and a wine assortment. The menu offers pasta and pizza, salads, and entrees, including a Chicken Milanese. 27919 Harper Ave., St. Clair Shores; 586879-6764. L,D Tue.-Sat

Isla $$

FILIPINO • Dishes at this Filipino restaurant, formerly sheltered at Fort Street Galley, are reflective of the culinary traditions of the founders’ Iloilo City hometown. Annatto is used to punch up the color of Chicken Adobo, the unofficial dish of the Philippines, and juicy mangoes complement sweet and savory dishes. 2496 Metro Pkwy, Sterling Heights; 586-883-7526. D Tue.-Sat., BR Sun.

J. Baldwin’s Restaurant $$$

NEW AMERICAN • The menu showcases talented chef Jeff Baldwin’s contemporary American food: cedarplanked salmon, chicken fettuccini alfredo with pesto, and herb-crusted chicken, with housemade breads. The desserts include chocolate bumpy cake, spiced carrot cake, apple cobbler, chocolate mousse layer cake, and banana foster bread pudding. 16981 18 Mile Road, Clinton Township; 586-416-3500. L,D Tue.-Sun., BR Sun.

Mr. Paul’s Chophouse $$$

STEAKHOUSE • This bastion of red meat as well as classic dishes is still going strong. Try old-school tableside presentations such as Chateaubriand and Caesar salad. There’s a solid selection of fresh seafood and pasta, too. The founding family still runs the place and emphasizes great hospitality and a heckuva good time. 29850 Groesbeck Hwy., Roseville; 586-7777770. L,D Mon.-Fri., D Sat.

Sherwood Brewing Co.

$

GASTROPUB • Quality local ingredients raise Sherwood’s fare to well above “elevated pub grub.” Some notable choices include the hearty House Beer

Chili, savory Better Made-crusted fish and chips, and spicy Buffalo Mac. Homemade extends to dessert, including Cashew Outside Cookies. This isn’t just bar food, it’s elevated bar food. 45689 Hayes Road, Shelby Township; 586-532-9669. L,D Tue.-Sat.

Steakhouse 22 $$

STEAKHOUSE • The late Nick Andreopoulos once spent time as a “broiler man” at London Chop House. His family stays true to those roots at this American steakhouse with a casual, neighborhood feel. They offer an array of well-prepared angus steaks, plus seafood and pasta dishes. With the sizable lunch and portions offered at Steakhouse 22, good luck saving room for dessert! 48900 Van Dyke Ave., Shelby Township; 586-731-3900. L,D Tue.-Sun.

Twisted Rooster $$

SPORTS BAR This “Michigan-centric” chain (Chesterfield Township, Grand Rapids, and Belleville) has takes on classics, with mac & cheese variations and steaks with “zip” sauce. 45225 Marketplace Blvd., Chesterfield; 586-949-1470. L,D daily.

Vast Kitchen and Bar $$

NEW AMERICAN • Chef Nicole Justman heads the kitchen at this fresh spot that brings a touch of Birmingham to Shelby Township. A contemporary menu at Vast Kitchen and Bar includes pan-seared salmon and sous vide pork shank. 52969 Van Dyke Ave., Shelby Township; 586-991-6104. L,D Mon.-Sat.

Washtenaw

Bellflower $$$

NEW AMERICAN • A restaurant housed in a former exchange of the Michigan Bell Telephone Company, Bellflower answers Ypsilanti’s call for fine dining with an adventurous flair. Boudin sausage with roasted okra, baked oysters, and ginger ale or CocaCola-roasted beets showed up on early menus as chef Dan Klenotic’s way of straddling the line of creole tradition and an imaginative style that is entirely his own. 209 Pearl St., Ypsilanti. L,D Mon.-Sat.

Black Pearl $$

SEAFOOD • This seafood and martini bar is especially popular during patio season. But step inside for a host of craft cocktails, then stay for dinner. A seafood-dominated menu includes a notable roasted scallop dish. Non-seafood options include the eponymous burger, roasted butternut squash salad, and filet mignon. And make sure to order dessert. 302 S. Main St., Ann Arbor; 734-222-0400. D daily.

Blue LLama Jazz Club $$

CREATIVE AMERICAN • Come to this swanky jazz club for the music, which includes headliners such as the Grammy-nominated Ravi Coltrane Quartet, but stay for Chef Louis Goral’s delicious food. Try the crispy foie gras PB&J with Marcona almonds and strawberry jam. There is also a delicious Sunday brunch with decadent orange blossom beignets and strawberry pancakes. 314 S. Main St., Ann Arbor; 734-372-3200. D Tue.-Sat.

The Blue Nile $$

ETHIOPIAN • The real treat of the meal at this quaint Ferndale restaurant is that it’s scooped up with a spongy bread called injera, and all the lentils, often seasoned with an Ethiopian spice mixture known as Berber, and vegetables are equally delicious. 221 E. Washington St., Ann Arbor; 734-998-4746. D Tue.-Sun.545 W. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale; 248-547-6699. D Thu.-Sun.

Cardamom $$

Slurping Turtle $

INDIAN

• Check out the Hyderabadi Biryani —chicken, goat, and vegetable dishes, in which the rice is first cooked then baked. All the Indian favorites are available at Cardamom, such as Chicken Tikka Masala, Lamb Rogan Josh, and warm, fluffy, made-fresh garlic naan. It’s the ideal spot for when you’re craving the classics. 1739 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor; 734-6622877. L Sun., D Tue.-Sun.

The Common Grill $$

SEAFOOD • Founded by Chef Craig Common, whose skilled work drew the attention of the now shuttered Gourmet magazine and the James Beard House, this mainstay was acquired in 2022 by Peas & Carrots Hospitality. Chefs Zack Sklar and Josh Humphrey most of the beloved restaurant’s menu, such as the expertly prepared oysters and seafood dishes as well as the coconut cream pie. 112 S. Main St., Chelsea; 734-475-0470. L,D Tue.-Sun., BR Sun.

KouZina Greek Steet Food $

GREEK • The Greek “street food” at this Ann Arbor spot comes in lamb and beef, and chicken. Try the lentil soup for a delicious lunch or go for something more filling like falafel. Either way, you can’t go wrong with this excellent spot. 332 S. Main St., Ann Arbor; 734997-5155. L,D Tue.-Sun.

Mani Osteria & Bar $$

ITALIAN • This popular casual restaurant infuses freshness with lower prices than most osterias in the area. It’s a well-rounded blend of modern, eclectic Italian with classic standbys. The pizzas are hot, fresh and perfectly executed to suit your tastes. 341 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor; 734-769-6700. L Fri.-Sun., D Wed.-Sun.

Miss Kim $$

KOREAN • This spinoff from the Zingerman’s mini empire comes courtesy of chef Ji Hye Kim, a James Beard semifinalist. Kim meticulously researches Korean culinary traditions and recipes to create her unique blend of modern Korean food highlighting Michigan vegetables, from housemade kimchi to the tteokbokki (rice cakes). Some of the restaurant’s standouts include a craveable Korean fried chicken and its plantbased counterpart the Korean fried tofu. 415 N. Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor, 734-275-0099. L and D Wed.-Mon.

Paesano $$

ITALIAN • With a friendly waitstaff and decked in vibrant colors, this lively restaurant is not to be missed. The innovative menu changes seasonally. Must-tries have included the pasta carbonara, featuring shrimp, duck bacon, and Italian greens, as well as beet and ricotta gnocchi with brown butter. 3411 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor; 734-971-0484. L,D daily.

Seva Ann Arbor $$

VEGAN • Seva offers such dishes as black bean and sweet potato quesadillas, gluten-free options, and colorful stir-fries — some vegan as well as vegetarian. There’s also a full bar as well as a juice bar serving creamy smoothies and dense shakes, fresh-squeezed juices, and craft mocktails. Choose from one of the most extensive vegetarian menus in the Detroit area. 2541 Jackson Ave., Ann Arbor; 734-662-1111. L,D Mon.-Sat.

Shalimar $$ INDIAN • Offering North Indian, Tandoori, and Mughlai dishes, Shalimar is suitable for carnivores and herbivores alike. Standouts include the Tandoori Lamb Chops marinated in creamy yogurt, spicy ginger, and fresh garlic, which is best eaten with the restaurant’s flavorful, chewy garlic naan served fresh and hot. 307 S. Main St., Ann Arbor;734-663-1500. L, D daily.

JAPANESE • This fun, casual Ann Arbor restaurant, owned by celebrity chef Takashi Yagihashi, offers plenty of shareable dishes, such as hamachi tacos and duck-fat fried chicken. But the star at Slurping Turtle is the noodle (Yagihashi’s “soul food”), which is made in-house daily on a machine imported from Japan. 608 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor; 734-887-6868. L,D daily.

The Boro Dining Room and Bar $$$$ NEW AMERICAN • Much like the restaurant’s ambience, the cuisine at The Boro is both refined and relaxed. The Grilled Bone-In Pork Loin typifies the vibe. In flavor, the pork is reminiscent of a slab of tender brisket at a family barbecue. The loin is sweetened with a smattering of St. Louis-style barbecue glaze. In presentation and accoutrements, though, the dish is worthy of white-tablecloth status. 5400 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor; 734-6693310. B,L,D daily.

Yotsuba Japanese Restaurant & Bar $$

JAPANESE • The semi-circular sushi bar is the center of this restaurant. Sushi chef Bobby Suzuki has a loyal following for his precise nigiri rolls. There are also tatami rooms and conventional seating. 7365 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield Township; 248737-8282. 2222 Hogback Road, Ann Arbor; 734-9715168. L,D Tue.-Sun.

Zingerman’s Roadhouse $$$

CLASSIC COMFORT • This eatery celebrates the food of various American cities, from fresh Maryland crab cakes to the delicacies of New Orleans. The buttermilk biscuits are beyond-this-world. 2501 Jackson Ave., Ann Arbor; 734-663-3663. B,L,D daily.

FEATURED Testa Barra

ITALIAN

The newest spot from talented chef and restaurateur Jeffrey Baldwin and his wife, RoseMarie, offers modern Italian fare in a lively, upbeat setting. Pastas are made in-house.

48824 Romeo Plank Road, Macomb Township; 586-4340100. L,D Sun., D Tue.-Sat.

05.13.2023

Prom Remodeled

PHOTOS BY NIKI WILLIAMS

AT THIS ANNUAL EVENT, supporting Life Remodeled, guests enjoyed a superstar lineup of entertainment including Montell Jordan, Gin Blossoms, DJ Stacey Hotwaxx Hale, and the Detroit Youth Choir, plus hors d’oeuvres and cocktails by locally owned restaurants. Life Remodeled is a nonprofit organization that revitalizes neighborhoods throughout Detroit by improving academics, increasing access to health and wellness services, and supporting Detroiters to achieve economic success. Learn more at liferemodeled.org

1. Josh and Colleen Bach 2. Tam and Alaysha Chavis

3. Isis House and Andrea House

4. Michelle and Fred Minturn, Matt and Jodi Friedman

5. Doug Olander and Judy Richardson

6. Angie and Matt Kelly

7. Lexi and Austin Shaw

8. Daimen Jackson and James Bates 9. David and Christine Cessante, Beth and Greg Campau

10. Laura and Raffaele

Malizia 11. Chris Boll and Maria Martinez

Polish the Jewel Belle Isle Legacy Luncheon

Ambrose-Burbank 4. Andrea Dickson

5. Rochelle Riley and Mary Sheffield

6. Michelle Hodges, Leslie Ann Pilling, and Rochelle Riley 7. Sarah Earley and Joyce Hayes Giles 8. Alison Gschwender and Glenna Buehler 9. Doug Dossin, Diane Dossin, Robin Hessle, Jana Brownell, and Steve Brownell

1. Barton Morris Allan Nachman, and Bridjet Morris 2. “Best Hat” winners Glenna Buehler, Elanah Nachman Hunger, and Kristina Efford 3. Kyra Ambrose, Allison Tanfield, and Rumia

FOR 132 YEARS, farmers like the ones shown here on Aug. 14, 1937, working tirelessly at the crack of dawn, have hauled tons of fresh produce to Detroit’s Eastern Market.

Today, on a typical Saturday, up to 40,000 people enjoy the colorful and festive market while strolling through five large sheds and loading carts, wagons, and bags with fresh vegetables, fruits, spices, cheeses, condiments, and specialty food items produced by farms in Michigan, Ohio, and Ontario.

Located approximately 1 mile northeast of downtown Detroit and bounded by Gratiot and Mack avenues with Russell Street serving as the main thoroughfare, it is one of the nation’s oldest and largest open-air markets.

The Detroit farmers market began in 1841 at Cadillac Square downtown, east of Woodward Avenue, before moving to its present location, the site of an early hay and wood market. In 1891, it was renamed Eastern Market.

The beloved marketplace draws a diverse population of all ages and backgrounds from the inner city, suburbs, and surrounding small towns and is celebrated for annually hosting several events, including the popular Flower Day held on the Sunday after Mother’s Day, a time-honored tradition since 1967.

The Eastern Market district encompasses over 150 businesses within six city blocks in a 43-acre area that includes popular restaurants, boutiques, and specialty food shops and draws an estimated 2 million visitors annually.

The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. Operational control of the market was spun off from the city of Detroit to the nonprofit Eastern Market Corp. in 2006. Since then, millions of dollars have been invested in the infrastructure and renovation of the sheds. —Bill Dow