Detroit Foodie: Dangerously Delicious Pies

12. Jan
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Weekend Aways
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2 Comments

We love making the most of our weekends and exploring new places in Detroit. I read about this place on the Detroit Foodie blog (which I love – and check every week for new places to explore). So we yelped and braved the melting snow to try out Dangerously Delicious Pies (located in the Third Street Bar in Midtown Detroit). This place is legit (both the bar and the pies). We loved the laid back vibe – good beer, friendly people and vintage games. We went for lunch – which is the best time for us to explore Detroit places with a toddler. We tried the Steak and Cheese savory pie and the Vegetable Quiche (which had a much better name but I can’t seem to remember it). The pastry was light and flaky and the flavors were spot on. I had a sweet hot sauce on the side that was pure gold awesome-sauce. We love places like this – authentic and real people – working to make a place they love. We felt the heart in this food. Weekends are made for Detroit adventures!

End of Summer

07. Nov
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Weekend Aways
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2 Comments

A family day in Detroit:
Midtown: Great Lakes Coffee Roasting Company
Eastern Market (and food trucks!)
Back to Midtown for a tour of Shinola
Traffic Jam and Snug for a late lunch (A Detroit classic but not one of my favorites. Wish they would focus the menu more)
We went on a driving tour during nap time and ended up in the historic Corktown.
We watched a pick up game of baseball and then headed over to the train station to admire some architecture.
Two James was a fantastic experience. Great design and even better cocktails. Mag’s and I enjoyed checking out all the barrels in the wall.
We had to stop in at Slows – a Corktown classic but as always there was over a two hour wait… so onto –
The Mercury Bar – fantastic burgers and a great patio. All the talk about the Detroit Tigers inspired us to…
Catch a game at Comerica Park. We snagged some tickets from a scalper and even a ride on the carousel for Mags.
We cheered our Tigers to win in the 14th inning.

Simply said, we said good bye to summer in the shadow of Detroit.

greenville – a getaway staycation

About two weeks ago we went to Greenville, SC on a bit of a getaway “staycation” kind of a trip. Doug’s parents offered us the use of their home in Greenville for the week and we were excited to explore this city. I was blown away. Really. Who knew this incredible approachable, foodie-filled city was just here? Well I think we just about visited 2 new restaurants a day, discovered about 5 parks, explored the beer culture and enjoyed this beautiful city with a river running through it. I was in awe. I don’t think I have experienced a downtown as vibrant as this one outside of Chicago or New York. It was packed with families, side walk cafes, street musicians and offered the southern hospitality available only in the deep south. Maggie was in heaven and we took our time to relax, read (I even got through the entire Harvard Business Review this month!) and build memories. Throughout a vacation, I often tuck away memories and think “I need to remember this moment”. I had quite a few of them, but perhaps my favorite moments on this trip were seeing Maggie discover her love for the outdoors. An unforgettable date night to celebrate my Masters (more on that to come) and hanging out with my BFF, Barbie, for a girls night out. There are alot of “Remember this moment” pictures but I thought I would share one that really puts the reason behind vacations into perspective. It is about connecting with family and building the moments that make up the fabric of your story together.

spanish tapas guide

Our first hurdle in eating well in Spain was understanding what we were eating (given our lack of ability to speak Spanish or Catalan). So, before I left, I made a guide for my dad and I to decipher what was on the menu. Some of the more touristy locations offer menus with pictures (but these places may not have the best food… so go for the small place with a chalkboard menu and bring along a guide to help you choose well). At every location we ordered Patatas Bravas (fried potatoes), Pan con Tomate (tomato bread) and Croquetas (fried cakes usually stuffed with a potato, cheese and meat mixture). My main bit of advice: be adventurous and savor the seafood.

Tapas Guide:
Aceitunas: Olives
Ahumados: Smoked Fish
Albondigas: Meatballs
Almejas: Small Clams
Berberechos: Cockles
Boquerones: Anchovies (usually in oil or vinegar)
Calamares: Squid (this can be fried or grilled, we didn’t care for the grilled versions as they were chewy and had a strong taste of the sea)
Caracoles: Snails
Champiñones: Mushrooms
Chipirones: Baby Squid (slightly more tender than calamares but the grilled version was not to our liking)
Croquetas: croquets (many different varieties – my favorite was Iberian ham and cheese)
Ensaladilla Rusa: “Russian Salad”
Figatells: A burger or meatball (recipe includes liver) skewered to bread
Gambas: Prawns (the preparation is specific to the establishment – if you like shrimp you must try these)
Ibericos y Quesos: A selection of cold meats and cheese (most of the time this includes Iberian Ham and hard goat cheese and sometimes a selection of almonds).
Mejillones: Mussels (typically in a garlic wine sauce with tomatoes)
Navajas: Razor Shells
Pan con Tomate: Grilled crispy bread with tomato and garlic (these are prepared specific to the establishment but are a very affordable start to the meal)
Patatas Bravas: Potato wedges with either a spicy coating served with an aioli (these are prepared specific to the establishment – differing in size, spice level and complexity of the aioli).
Pechinas: Scallops
Pescaditos: Fried small fish in batter
Pinchos (pinchas): A type of kebab served on a wooden skewer
Pulpitos: Baby Octopus (most likely grilled)
Pulpo: Octopus (most likely grilled)
Salazones: Salted Fish
Salpicón: Cold chopped fish dish seasoned with pepper, salt vinegar & onion
Sardinas: Sardines
Sepia: Cuttlefish
Tellinas: Cockles served on the shell (usually in a garlic sauce).

Tapas Links:
Barcelona Tapas Tips
Wiki-Tapas

A taste of Spain close to home (some of my favorite Michigan restaurants that have a commitment to creating an authentic Spanish experience):
San Chez Bistro – Grand Rapids
Sangria Tapas Cafe – Royal Oak

mackinac – a moment back in time – part 3

After a beautiful morning on the island, we took the ferry to the mainland and decided to explore Fort Michilimackinac.

Doug remembered visiting the fort as a kid and we explored all the old buildings and learned about the traders and native americans who called the shores of Lake Michigan home. On the weekends, the fort has volunteers who dress up in character and have demonstrations of cooking, blacksmithing and firearms. After a history lesson or two, we headed back towards home – but decided to take the scenic route along the shore of Lake Huron.

We turned to PureMichigan’s site for some inspiration and found their lighthouse roadtrip guide. Our first stop was the lighthouse of Old Mackinac Point – which is now a restored museum. It’s in a beautiful location (right beside the Fort and overlooks the Mackinac Bridge to the UP. We then headed south and our second lighthouse was 40 Mile Point Lighthouse – which is free and you can climb up the tower at no charge (we found that most charge a fee for this). I would highly recommend this location for a picnic on the beach – as they have a trail leading down to the water. Perhaps our favorite stop of the day was the Old Presque Isle Lighthouse (said to be the oldest lighthouse in Michigan). The tower is separate from the living quarters and the steps are hand carved out of stone – which makes this a picturesque lighthouse – however the most intriguing fact maybe that George (the old caretaker) is said to haunt this tower on occasion. The lighthouse has been disconnected from power sources for some time, and the volunteer said she has seen a phantom light coming from the tower on numerous occasions. So George may be present – making sure the ships come safely home.

Our final stop of the day was in Alpena – not exactly a hotbed of culinary options – but we used Yelp to guide us to the Courtyard Restaurante. Perhaps one of the most memorable meals of the year for us (and believe me that is no small feat with the restaurants we have explored). This local place has an eclectic decor and the menu features some locally sourced ingredients with a commitment to scratch-made italian dishes. The owners travel every year to find inspiration for their menu – and our pesto ravioli was truly inspired. A great ending to a beautiful weekend!