Detroit

[exit2lef]

I spent a few days in Detroit earlier this year for a conference. I actually go to the area often to visit family in the suburbs, but this was my first chance in a long time to spend substantial amounts of time in the city itself. These are my food highlights.

My first and best meal was at Baobab Fare (https://baobabfare.com/), an African restaurant in the New Center area of the city. More specifcally, the restaurant serves food from Burundi, the owners' country of origin, and the surrounding regions of east Africa. I wanted to try the Tuesday night special, ugali, a cornmeal ball in a stew of okra with fish or chicken. Unfortunately, they had sold out by the time I arrived. My server recommended nyumbani, stewed beef with spinach in peanut sauce, plantains, and two kinds of rice. Tender and flavorful on its own, it was even better with a bit of the house “pili” hot sauce. Dessert was an avocado passion fruit pudding with chia seeds. I liked the latter item more than I expected to. It was sweet enough to be a good follow-up to the hot sauce, but not excessively dense like a smoothie. Instead, it was a refreshing palate cleanser after an intensely flavorful meal.

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The next morning, I had breakfast at Farmer Frank's (https://www.thefarmerfranks.com/) in the Eastern Market (https://easternmarket.org/). This was standard American breakfast fare well executed. I was there early on a weekday, and the only other customers were people who appeared to work in the food wholesale businesses in the market. I imagine this place gets more crowded on weekends when there is a retail market going on outside. In fact, it would be a great place to start a morning of shopping at the Eastern Market.

Dinner and lunch were both convention center fare, but I made up for that by treating myself to dessert at Milk & Froth (https://www.milkandfroth.com/), a local ice cream shop. I enjoyed a waffle cone with roasted strawberry sorbet on top and honeycomb ice cream on the bottom. The combination provided a nice blend of sweet and tangy flavors.

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The next day, I had tamales for breakfast at Evie's in Mexicantown and later went to the Corktown neighborhood to enjoy Slows Bar BQ for lunch (https://slowsbarbq.com/locations/corktown/). I had one of their signature sandwiches called "The Reason" with pulled pork, slaw, and pickles. It reminded me of the barbecue I used to eat during my grad school days in North Carolina. As with most places in trendy Corktown, the vibe here is slightly upscale and hipsterish, but in a good way. It doesn't feel like a bare bones barbecue joint on the outskirts of town, but it's not pretentious either. I appreciated the selection of draft beer.

For dinner, i was determined to revisit Greektown and expand my horizons beyond the places I usually visit there. This time, I tried the Golden Fleece (https://goldenfleecedetroit.com/), which seemed a little less touristy than some of the other places in Greektown. For dinner, I enjoyed souvlaki with pita and rice and a side of horta, or boiled greens. Of course, no visit to Greektown is complete without a stop at the Astoria Bakery (https://astoriapastryshop.com/) a few doors down.

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As with most trips, I had to return home before I could scratch every itch. There are two places I wasn't able to visit this time but am determined to try on another visit:

Barcoa, an Argentinian restaurant in the Core City neighborhood: http://bardadetroit.com/

Detroit Institute of Bagels, next door to Barcoa: http://detroitinstituteofbagels.com/

[exit2lef]

Back in Detroit, two new (for me) finds this time.

First, I was in need of quick, tasty lunch in suburban Farmington. Taqueria Victoria worked out well. It's a modest place in an area dominated by strip malls and caters to a lot of constructions workers, many of them Spanish speaking. I ordered some birria tacos (not gooey quesabirria, as wonderful as that can be) and got some tasty, tender marinated beef with cilantro and onions. Since my Michigan relatives live nearby, I'll definitely explore this place more during future visits.

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For a more leisurely dinner before a concert at the nearby Masonic Temple, the choice was Grey Ghost, a modern American restaurant just off Woodward between Downtown and Midtown. I love how they've reinvented some classics and added contemporary touches within the context of an historic building. My entree was seared scallops with spaetzle and a sort of cucumber puree. My drink was a seasonal "Wingfoot" rum cocktail. Both had a pleasant summer vibe that made them ideal for this time of year. Others at my table enjoyed a quail entree, as well as a roasted eggplant appetizer and sides of Brussels Sprouts and zucchini "tots," which ended up sort of like falafel.

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Taqueria Victoria
30746 Grand River Ave, Farmington, MI 48336
https://taqueriavictoriami.com/

Grey Ghost Detroit
47 Watson St, Detroit, MI 48201
https://greyghostdetroit.com/