I am in love with Willis (Street)

I realized today that I have not written about my FAVORITE lunch spot.  On the corner of Willis Street and Cass Avenue in Detroit's Midtown lies two gems - Goodwell's Natural Food Market and Avalon International Breads.  

It is really a fight inside my brain as to which one I will get my lunch from almost every day.  If I go to Avalon, odds are I will get the Mediterranean Chick Pea Salad, a Cosmic Cranberry Kombucha and a Vegan Granola Bar.  If I go to Goodwell's, odds are I will get a Famous Vegan Pocket Sandwich with Avocado a Cosmic Cranberry Kombucha and either dried mango or kale chips.  This is pretty standard unless I grab something off of the day old shelf at Avalon (I scored and hit the jackpot one day and there were four Vegan Granola Bars in a bag for $2…a total bonus) like date bars or scones.  Or, I change it up and get a soup from Goodwell's, which can happen on any given day depending on the choices.  Or I go crazy and go to both!

Photo credit AvalonBreads.net

The reason I love these two places is because of their food, ingredients, taste and local nature.  Avalon makes everything right there.  Goodwell's makes everything right there.  Each uses quality ingredients and since that is important to me, it works out well.  PLUS, the staff at each establishment is awesome.  Case in point…I was having a particularly ruff day at work when I arrived at Avalon for my lunch, late and tired.  I got my usual and noticed that the woman behind the counter gave me a little smile.  I smiled back not thinking anything of it.  When I got into my car, I decided to eat my granola bar while in the car because it was that kind of day.  When I opened the bag, there were two granola bars inside.  I was so happy!  It turned my day around completely and I have the woman at Avalon to thank for that!

Avalon is a bakery and makes wonderful breads and desserts, but they also carry coffee, salads, soups and sandwiches as well as some local products.  Their breads are sold all over Southeast Michigan.

Goodwell's National Food Market carries a variety of organic and natural grocery items as well as organic produce as well as soups, sandwiches, salads and other grab and go items.

Two musts!

Vegan Granola Bar from Avalon

Famous Vegan Pocket Sandwich from Goodwell's.

Eat It!

Take me to your leader...Javabot

This past week a co-worker and I visited The Roasting Plant, a new coffee establishment in the Campus Martius area in Downtown Detroit. It is truly unlike any other coffee establishment I have been to.

First let me say, that we got a great parking spot right outside, which I am sure added to our experience. Upon getting out of the car we were smacked in the face with the smell of roasting coffee. And, it smelled goooood. I really could have gotten back in the car right then, as I was pretty satisfied with the smell alone, but that wouldn't keep me awake in the afternoon. So we went in.

The glass tubes from the Javabot line the ceiling and drop into the middle of the shop. The Javabot as described on The Roasting Plant's website is, "A patented Roasting Plant invention, Javabot first holds 'green' beans in a series of clear storage columns. When it’s time for roasting, the beans are automatically measured out by weight and then “whooshed” into the roaster via bursts of air through clear pneumatic tubes." And then..."Once roasted, the beans are blown back into the columns where they rest for no longer than 48 hours, allowing their flavors to mature without decaying. Then they’re dispensed in first-in-first-out order into our brewer or retail bags at the peak of their freshness." Wow.

There are only two other Javabots in the country located at The Roasting Plant's two other locations, both in New York. New York and Detroit. Nice.

So, you walk up, you order your size or speciality drink, you specify to bean and if you want it supercharged (more beans used to make it stronger). I had a medium supercharge Ethiopian Harrar. Intense and smoky. I drink it black, it was good.

I really want to go back. Not only for the Javabot, which is quite fun to watch, and the whooshing beans that fly across the ceiling, but the great cup of coffee that was delivered to me all hot and yummy.

A friend of mine has been there everyday this week and I have a feeling he will be back there tomorrow...maybe the Javabot does more than make a good cup of coffee to get you coming back....

The Roasting Plant is located at:
Woodward Avenue
660 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 782- 4291



Photo Credit--Julie Phenis, Co-Creator, HeyGirlDetroit

Que Seva Seva...

OK, I know the real words, but I had to do it.

Instead of painting my whole night for you.  I am going to get right down to it. 

Seva's General Tso's Cauliflower is like crack.  Once you start you can't stop and you want to eat it every day. 

So good.  So good.  So good.

General Tso's Cauliflower-Photo Credit: detnew.com

I was at Seva for a party where the the food was chosen for me, which is good because I may not have chosen the same thing and then missed out.  The other stand out for me was Rennie's Peanut-Kale Salad (kale, carrots, butternut squash, red peppers in a peanut-cider marinade).  I Love Kale, so this is a natural win for me. 

Seva Detroit  *  66 E. Forest Ave.  * Detroit, MI 48201  *  (313) 974-6661

The other thing that I realized is this…I HAVE TO GO BACK THERE AND EAT MORE.  I looked at the menu while I was there and there are so many things that I want to try…Mushroom Sliders, Black Bean and Sweet Potato Quesadilla, Yam Fries, and their Spinach Salad…I need to try them all.

In addition to their regular menu items, they have weekly lunch, dinner, drink and appetizer specials that also sound fantastic, like Red Lentil Coconut Curry Soup, which contains three of my favorite things all in one.

Now, you should know that Seva is a sister restaurant to the original Seva in Ann Arbor.  Each establishment specializing in Vegetarian Cuisine and has a full bar. 

I am upset with myself for not eating there sooner. 

At any rate, I am going there for lunch this week and I can't wait!  OH!  And, for those of you who like Kombucha, they serve Unity Vibration's (located in Ypsilanti, Michigan) Kombucha! Bingo!

Research Tonight

Consume Detroit will be out on the town tonight to consume and I can not wait to share my findings with you. I will be hitting a few new spots and I know I will have good things to share. So make sure to check back tomorrow.

Where am I going? It's a secret.

In the meantime, I leave you with this simple breakfast yogurt treat...
1 cup non-fat Greek yogurt
A pinch of Stevia
Two dashes of cinnamon
2 drops of pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup raw slivered almonds

Stir it up....YUM!!!!

I would post a pic but I ate it already! So here is a picture of a homemade Dutch Baby instead...just because it's pretty

Now off I go for a long run to make room to c o n s u m e.

Saturday Schnitzelbank?

Last night was my first time at the Dakota Inn (can't believe that!) and I want to go back again...already.  It was so much fun!  From the moment you walk in and see the architecture and the hear the whole place singing a song together (the words are projected on the wall), you know this is going to be a great place.

Dakota Inn--Located on John R in Detroit..Not far from Hamtramck , is Detroit's only authentic German restaurant and bar.

Since I was there with a group Germans (Jaegers and Koenigbauers) they guided me through the menu of traditional dishes.  We quickly ordered a pitcher of the Dakota Inn Red  and a cheese and sausage board which was served with pretzels and mustard.  Yum! Perfect! The cheese was a mellow Gouda and the "chub" of Summer Sausage was served with the the skin still on.  I loved it and so did everyone else at the table because it was gone quickly.

German Artwork on wall

And, now the piano player takes a request!  YAY...so, we heard a rendition of "The Entertainer" and many people in the crowd sang along.

Dinner is served!  I ordered the Kassler Rippchen.  A smoked pork chop, served with hot German potato salad and red kraut...outstanding.  The pork chop was like biting into a thick piece of ham.  We also ordered potato pancakes for the table.  They may have been the best potato pancakes I have ever had.  I could taste the butter they were sauteed in and the edges were so crisp.  My husband ordered the Rouldan, which is round steak wrapped around pork, onions and a pickle.  And, we ordered the Knackwurst for the kids.  I was not a huge fan of the Rouldan. I couldn't really taste the individual flavors, but I could see the appeal of the dish.   The Knackwurst was very good and tasted and smelled just like a good German sausage should.  I would like to taste the Bratwurst next time.

And, now...what we have all been waiting for SCHNITZELBANK!

What is a schnitzelbank?

"A Schnitzelbank is actually a woodworker's bench. One of the great Dakota Inn traditions includes a sing-along about the Schnitzelbank. This is a classic German drinking song. Every night, someone leads the crowd in a song that uses the Schnitzelbank as its centerpiece."

 

The words to Schnitzelbank displayed on the wall

 The crowd loved this song...we all sang along and I know I said every word incorrectly, but I don't care.  It was fun!  The man who lead the song, used an old cane to point the the next word.  So, fun!

And, to top it all off, they had a snowflake cutting contest.  They even supplied the paper and scissors.  All of the snowflakes are then displayed on the walls!

I love the Dakota Inn.  I will be back and I am going to practice the Schnitzelbank before I return!

Consuming Sunshine

Running on the Riverfront is a perfect way to end your day with sun like this! Get out early and enjoy!!

Surprisingly quiet and not too many people...come on all you auto show visitors, get out here!

Gotta ruuuunnmn....

Bacon...Why I am not a Vegetarian

Where can you get the best bacon?  I am talking about prepared bacon with your meal.  Do you like thin and fatty?  Thick and meaty?  Peppery? Mapley? (Mapley is not a word)

I can't help it.  The Original Pancake House has my vote for the best restaurant bacon.  I would really welcome some comments on other establishments that offer good bacon, so I can try them out.  I am sure there are others out there and I want to make sure that I am making the best judgement.

Their bacon is thick and mapley with a little pepper taste on the backside.  It is sooooo yummy and even better when you dump some warm syrup over it.

My favorite bacon can be bought from Crestwick Farms.  It is Apple with Sea Salt and it is sooooo good. Crestwick Farms is located in Ravena, Michigan, but delivers to locations in the metro-Detroit area and some products are carried at Vince and Joes Market and other locations found on their website. At Crestwick Farms they have 100% naturally raised livestock, so you can feel good about your bacon!  AND, their products are Nitrite/Nitrate, MSG, Soy and Preservative Free and are created within their own facility and smokehouses.

On the subject of bacon, there is a strange phenomenon that happens when I eat bacon and drink coffee.  If I do them both simultaneously, my coffee tastes horrible.  This is a HUGE bummer as I love both coffee and bacon and most often just suck it up and drink bad tasting coffee.  I googled this and came up short.  Apparently this doesn't happen to anyone but me.



Good luck on your bacon and let me know if you find some really good restaurant bacon in Detroit and I will go eat it.