Do-It-Yourself Dining
BD’s Mongolian Grill, with locations across the region, gives you the opportunity to customize your meal. Choose from an impressive array of fresh meats and sea-found foods, veggies, sauces and spices, then hand your concoction to a grill master, who will stir-fry it on a six-foot circular flat grill — often theatrically — right before your eyes. The “unlimited” option allows you to perfect your recipe or try new combinations.
Benihana is another fun spot where food prep is the main attraction. Pull up a chair at the hibachi table to watch skilled chefs slice, dice and grill your meal to perfection, complete with flying shrimp flourishes.
Think you could do that? Step behind the grill through Benihana’s Be the Chef program to find out. After a personal training session in the ancient art of teppanyaki, you can whip up dinner for four, with your friends as audience members and taste testers.
You’re in complete control of the meal from appetizer to dessert at one of the area’s popular fondue restaurants. The Melting Pot in Troy, Novi and Ann Arbor, and The Fondue Room in Mount Clemens provide a communal cooking experience. To start, dip crusty bread and apples in a rich blend of ooey-gooey cheese. The main course involves cooking each morsel of meat to perfection by spearing it and sticking it into hot oil or broth. Bite-size veggies come with the main meal, and they’re especially tasty when dipped in batter and fried golden. Dessert is a delectable platter of fresh fruit, marshmallows and cake ready for plunging in scrumptious melted chocolate. All three courses are prepared by you in pots placed on burners in the center
of each table. It’s fun-do!
Hands-On How-To
Have you ever marveled at your exquisitely presented plate in a gourmet restaurant and wondered what it took to get it from the kitchen to your table? See for yourself during Cooking With Style, a tasteful — and tasty — cooking class presented by The Ritz Carlton - Dearborn.
The Monday evening classes cost $120 and feature a unique theme each month. Currently on the calendar: June 15 is Chilling and Grilling, September 21 is Classic French Bistro, October 19 is Flavors of Fall: A Michigan Feast, and November 16 is Roman Holiday: Italian Favorites. Each session starts in the luxury hotel’s banquet kitchen, where professional chefs demonstrate techniques and invite participants to try.
“Some people might be working on the proper way to get grill marks while others are doing salad or dessert prep,” says Colin Berens, the Ritz Carlton’s catering sales manager. “During a recent sushi class, we had trained cameras on the chef’s hands as he rolled the sushi, and everyone followed his lead at individual workstations. Other times, chefs will call people up to whisk or try a technique. It’s a wonderful experience just to be in the kitchen with all those aromas.”
After the two-hour lesson, students retire to the dining room, where a professional decorator has set the tables to match the evening’s theme. Guests enjoy the fruits of their labor, and each course is paired with champagne or wine.
An Affair to Remember
A Detroit Institute of Arts tradition for more than 20 years, the Brunch with Bach series combines fine cuisine and live music performances in the elegant setting of the museum’s Kresge Court. Your $35 concert ticket includes a hot entree, fresh fruit, breakfast breads, and beverages. Admission to the museum — an $8 value — is included, so plan to spend time wandering around after the 11 a.m.-1 p.m. event. (Check the museum’s Web site at www.dia.org for the most up-to-date schedules.)
You’ll want to gather your friends together for afternoon tea at the Townsend Hotel. A charming alternative to meeting at the coffee shop, the Townsend serves full English tea, complete with finger sandwiches and scones. Live classical music provides a refined backdrop. Do call ahead — reservations are required.
Rebecca Kavanagh is a Farmington Hills writer, wine taster and fondue dipper.
Food CelebrationsMany fairs and fests take place throughout The D during Michigan’s warm-weather months, all of which offer fun food options. (See our events listings
here.) These two favorites feature food as a main event:
Comerica CityfestThis five-day street festival in Detroit’s New Center area presents specialties by dozens of Michigan restaurants and free live entertainment.
July 1-5
W. Grand Blvd. between Woodward
and the Lodge (M-10)
Detroit, 48202
DD(313) 872-0188
www.comericacityfest.com Chrysler Arts, Beats & Eats With “eats” in the name, you know you’re in for some tasty treats. This popular Pontiac fest combines the best of culture, entertainment and dining to cap off the summer in style.
Sept. 4-7
Woodward Ave. and M-59
Pontiac, 48342
NO(248) 334-4600
www.artsbeatseats.com
All About Ambiance
Whether your favorite way to play involves a pick, a puck or a palette, here are a few awesome-atmosphere standouts:
Amici’s Living Room
Amici’s combines its award-winning pizza with art appreciation in the smoke-free Living Room lounge. The revolving art gallery features works by local artists. Complementary pizza is served during each monthly opening.
3249 12 Mile Road
Berkley, 48072 SO
(248) 544-4100
www.amicispizza.com
Hard Rock Cafe Detroit
Raise a toast to Motown surrounded by memorabilia representing local greats
ranging from The Temptations to Kid Rock.
45 Monroe St.
Detroit, 48226 DD
(313) 964-7625
www.hardrock.com
Hockeytown Cafe
Despite the Wing-centric name, all sports are cheered here. Catch nearly any type of game on one of several large-screen plasma TVs, and don’t miss the house specialty Hockeytown Burger.
2301 Woodward Ave.
Detroit, 48201 DD
(313) 965-9500
www.hockeytowncafe.com
Brews on Tap
Beer tastings take place year-round at countless area
restaurants, bars and festivals. May we suggest:
Big Rock Chop & Brew House
If you want a behind-the-scenes look at a brewpub in action, make sure to check out Big Rock Chop & Brew House. It offers tours of its brew house upon request, where you can learn why this local gem has won gold and bronze medals at the annual World Beer Championships. If there were awards for naming brews, it might also win those, with such colorful monikers as Norm’s Raggedy-Ass Ale, Raymondo El Rojo, Flying Buffalo Stout and Platinum Blonde Lager.
245 S. Eton
Birmingham, 48009 SO
(248) 647-7774
www.bigrockchophouse.com
Summer Beer Festival
The Michigan Brewers Guild hosts its Summer Beer Festival at Ypsilanti’s Riverside Park. More than 100 beers prepared by Michigan breweries are available to taste, with brewery personnel on hand to talk with guests and educate them about the art of beer making.
July 24-25
Riverside Park
1 W. Cross St.
Ypsilanti, 48197 BD
(734) 483-4444
www.michiganbrewersguild.org
