National leaders are recognizing Detroit’s food movement. Last week it was announced that the federal government is providing $150,000 to support local food cultivation in the Detroit area. The money will mostly go to farmers in the city to help fund infrastructure for growing crops.
Detroit has become a hub for urban farming, but the city is also home to a host of hidden and amazing restaurants. Let’s take a tour of those restaurants with writer Bill Loomis. He wrote the book, "Detroit Food: Coney Dogs to Farmers Markets." He joined us today to give us some recommendations.
If you’re craving Polish food, Loomis recommended Polish Village in Hamtramck. “I think it’s almost the quintessential Detroit restaurant experience to go down to Polish Village and down to their basement,” Loomis said. “As their manager said, ‘this is the food your grandmother would serve you if you were Polish.’”
If Mexican food is more your style, Southwest Detroit is the hub for this fare. Cynthia Canty recommends Xochimilco and El Rancho. When talking about El Rancho Canty said, “You wouldn’t notice it going by but it's right by one of those big mercados that have fabulous food and produce so you can take something home. It’s a family-run place, it’s not glitzy and the food is amazing.”
For Italian food, try Roma Café in the Eastern Market. Even Vice President Joe Biden has dined there.
For barbeque, try Slow’s Barbeque. Loomis warned that “the food is superb and sometimes it’s a two-hour wait to get in there.”
And finally, for soul food go to 1914 American Bistro, known for great catfish.
