Food

Wurst Bar Ypsi taking its gastro and craft goodness to Livonia

By Newsroom

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June 19, 2014

The recipe for success for The Wurst Bar in Ypsilanti is creative brats and burgers and craft beer and whiskey to go with them, and after seeing so many customers drive quite a distance for the fun-generating, taste-bud-tantalizing, community-engaging establishment, owners Jesse Kranyak and Jim Seba have decided to open a second location in Livonia. The Wurst Bar Livonia is expected to open its second gastropub this fall at 28121 Plymouth Road in the former Penalty Box. When it opens it will likely be a draw for its metro Detroit fans who can't get to Ypsi as often as they'd like. And just like The Wurst Bar Ypsi, which opened in January 2011, The Wurst Bar Livonia will wave its flag of devotion to locally sourced foods. There will be one menu difference: the addition of adult milkshakes. The new location in the more staid suburb of Livonia will also be a change in feel from the Ypsi location with its small, eclectic downtown bar across from Eastern Michigan University. It pulls in a mix of college students, hipsters and locals who come for Wurst's specialties and 24 regularly rotating taps. The spirit of The Wurst Bar's operators with their food challenges, tap takeovers and out of the box events and nightly specials will carry over to Livonia. The Livonia location is expected to be the first of at least three other metro Detroit Wurst Bars, if all goes well for the gastropub that has been in the running for top burger in metro Detroit numerous times. Source: Jesse Kranyak, owner, The Wurst Bar Writer: Kim North Shine

Latest in Food

Grand Bakery & Cafe opens in downtown Farmington

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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June 19, 2014

The business mix in downtown Farmington is growing with the arrival of Grand Bakery & Cafe. The newly opened business bakes breads, muffins, cakes, pies, cookies and bars on site and also serves fresh-made soups, sandwiches and salads that can be eaten in or taken away, including to nearby Riley Park. Grand Bakery & Cafe serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and also offers catering. Farmington's newest restaurant option is located at 38321 Grand River Avenue. Source: Farmington Downtown Development Authority Writer: Kim North Shine

An Italian Piazza in Metro Detroit

By Richard Retyi

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Arts & Culture

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June 5, 2014

Spawling 30,000 square feet and stocked with foods from around the world, Cantoro Italian Market has been referred to as a culinary Disneyland. Instead, it might be the closest thing to an official Italian piazza this side of New York City. Buon appetito!

Detroit BBQ & ice cream maker Treat Dreams team up in Ferndale

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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June 5, 2014

Downtown Ferndale's Treat Dreams is pulling in customers not for its creative and creamy ice creams, but for barbecue from Detroit. The two small businesses are in a partnership that has Detroit BBQ Company setting up sell-out popups inside Treat Dreams. Detroit BBQ sets out regularly from its home base on St. Aubin in Detroit to locations around metro Detroit. Its success at Treat Dreams brought the company back for a return engagement last week and made the barbecue caterer turned pop-up restaurant into yet another metro Detroit food biz to see the benefit of sharing space and fan bases. Source: Detroit BBQ Company & Treat Dreams Writer: Kim North Shine

Grosse Pointe Park Market Square plants seed for Kercheval Ave re-do

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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May 22, 2014

The demolition of a liquor store in Grosse Pointe Park has made way for what will become a more permanent space for a market that attracts crowds looking for farm and hand-made goods each spring, summer and fall. The West Park Farmers Market that comes seasonally each year to Kercheval Avenue is a success on its own, says market manager Jennifer Meldrum, but the new Market Square, which is being built about two blocks away at Kercheval and Wayburn, will give favorite vendors more permanent spots to do business. "Our hope is to, along with the popular Saturday Market, have market items available during the week for everyone’s shopping convenience," says Meldrum. The city's Department of Public Works has begun construction on market stalls that will line the street. Plans call for the widening of Kercheval, new landscaping and the addition of an island in the roadway that will create a roundabout for car and pedestrian traffic. The demolition of Art's Party Store made room for additional parking in a part of the city that's experiencing a commercial renaissance as new restaurants such as Atwater Brewery and Cabbage Patch Cafe join neighborhood staples such as Belding Cleaners, Sprout House and Pointe Hardware & Lumber Hardware. "Along with fruit and vegetable stalls, the market will feature organic produce, flower vendors and specialty items including meats, cheeses, flavored olive oils and barbecue dinners made to order," Meldrum says. "While many of our vendors will be using the new market stalls, we still plan on having the market umbrellas set up along Kercheval for gifts and seasonal items." Market Square is the latest piece in a plan in large part driven by the philanthropic and civic-minded Cotton family to turn Kercheval Avenue at the Detroit border into a walkable promenade and magnet for locals to find quality food and shopping and public gathering spaces. The 2014 market season runs May 24-Dec. 6. Source: Jennifer Meldrum, market manager, Grosse Pointe Park Writer: Kim North Shine

In time for grill season, stuffed chicken burgers become a Michigan & East Coast delicacy

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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May 22, 2014

Stuffed chicken burgers have lit a fire under their maker, Great Fresh Food, which is rushing to meet the demand. Excerpt: "Most burgers can be made on a grill in just a few minutes, but Jack Aronson and Dave Zilko's burger business strategy took about 2 ½ years to reach serving temperature for the masses. Now their time and $6 million investment appear to be paying off as their Jack's Special Grilled stuffed chicken burgers have hit the shelves in Michigan and on the East Coast, and the 26-employee parent company, Clinton Township-based Great Fresh Food, fights to keep up with the unexpected level of demand." More here.

OpEd: Closing the Gap Between Food Producers and Consumers

By Rachel Leemis

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Arts & Culture

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May 15, 2014

The biggest barrier to consumer access to fresh, locally-grown food is the distance between food providers and suppliers, says Rachel Leemis, founder of Monty's Beef Company, a Piedmontese beef retailer that keeps its own herd of cattle. But new state support for rural development is planting the way for the state's 52,000 farms to meet this growing trend.

M-Brew gives customers a ride through Michigan’s food, drink, vibe

By Newsroom

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Arts & Culture

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May 15, 2014

An old VFW hall in downtown Ferndale is on its way to becoming home to a catering biz, event space and storefront and cafe centered around Michigan made goods, from to-go growlers of craft beer to food and drink from dozens of cities around the state. M-Brew, the brainchild of Dean Bach, owner of Ferndale icon Dino's Lounge, will likely open in early July inside the renovated hall that is part bungalow-style house with a building added to the back. It's located at 177 Vester Street, next door to nightlife designation and award-winning spirit maker Valentine Distilling. Valentine was started by a like-minded entrepreneur who left New York for a return to Michigan with the dream of building a craft business that could lift up the local economy. Bach bought the VFW hall two years ago and in that time has come up with a multifaceted business plan that he hopes will fill the Michigan-influenced renovated house. The building behind the house is a 2,000-square-foot kitchen and home base to Bach's Dino's Catering and Mindful Catering. The latter offers healthy foods to school lunch programs. The basement of the house will be known simply as The Basement, Bach says, and it's where parties and special events can be held. Dart boards, paneling and all-around basement decor that came with the house will be the party backdrop. The house is where much of the woodwork and craftsmanship is on display. It will be a "little Michigan market," Bach says. Michigan-made coffee will be brewed and 30 Michigan craft beers will be on draught for takeaway in growlers. There will also be locally- and Michigan-made products -- salsa, chips, pickles, etc. -- for sale, and cold and hot prepared foods will be made in the kitchen or purchased from Michigan entrepreneurs for takeaway or eat-in. The house was gutted and replaced with pine walls and ceilings, wood floors, a new fireplace and repurposed Douglas fir countertops and tabletops, says Bach. "The concept is geared around craft beer carryout," Bach says. However, a large wraparound porch that's been added to the front of the house and gives off a Mackinac Island vibe is the "perfect place to stay and enjoy a pint or a cup of coffee." Bach expects opening day to come around the Fourth of July. A Ferndale Downtown Development Authority event is planned for June 19. Bach's head is churning with ideas and things to come at M-Brew, even before opening day. A big one, he says, is former Red Wing Darren McCarty's private-label root beer that will be released at an event. "This is such an exciting time," Bach says. "It's tiring and so much work, but it's so exciting for me and and my wife." Source: Dean Bach, owner, Dino's Lounge and M-Brew Writer: Kim North Shine

Giuseppe’s International Oils & Vinegars opens Grosse Pointe store

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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May 8, 2014

Stainless steel dispensers, ceramic decanters, and glass bottles make up much of the decor of Giuseppe's International Oils & Vinegars, but it's what's inside the containers that is the lifeblood of the business that has opened a second location in metro Detroit. The first store, at Partridge Creek Mall in Clinton Township, has found enough success selling olive oils, aged vinegars and accessories that the owners decided to open a store in Grosse Pointe this week. The newest Giuseppe's is located in the Village business district at 16841 Kercheval Avenue, on the second floor of the Dawood Building. The second floor retail location is a rarity for the Village, but may become more common as rules on building uses ease up and become more welcoming to businesses. Besides its olive oils in flavored, regional, organic and specialty varieties dispensed from stainless steel canisters, and its vinegars imported from Modena, Italy that come in dark and white balsamic and wine varieties, Giuseppe's sells herbs and spices, olive oil skin products, handmade ceramic decanters and dishes, and other home products. Giuseppe's also works with chefs who visit the store to share food and recipes that use oils, vinegars and other spices, including many that focus on health benefits. Writer: Kim North Shine Source: Grosse Pointe Chamber of Commerce

The Rendezvous With Tea opens in Grosse Pointe Woods

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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April 17, 2014

Jars and jars of tea leaves and all sorts of tea accoutrements make up the aromatic and colorful decor and merchandise at The Rendezvous With Tea in Grosse Pointe Woods. The store opened several weeks ago on busy Mack Avenue near Vernier (8 Mile Raod) and is seeing locals and destination shoppers looking for a taste of teas from around the world and closer to home. The tea-loving owner, Naszreen Gibson, sells nearly 200 varieties of loose teas mostly from Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, Indonesia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi and the Far East and more then 50 flavors of tea bags in sachets, pyramids and cloth bags. Tea pots and tea ware made of porcelain, cast iron, stainless steal and ceramic are also available. One thing not for sale is the owner's signed copy of the New Tea Lovers' Treasury. Author and tea authority James Norwood Pratt visited The Rendezvous With Tea recently and says the shop is "a dream come true brought to Grosse Pointe Woods by a tea visionary to challenge and inspire any seeker of excellence. Be wise and stay healthy: Let Naszreen make you love tea too." Source: Naszreen Gibson, owner, The Rendezvous With Tea Writer: Kim North Shine