Hello Ann Arbor!
The FLB has been on vacation for far too long. It’s time to shake off the dust, and get back to the occasional business of writing about food on the Internet.
For those who are still following from Upstate New York or other places around the world, Ann Arbor is the land of the University of Michigan. Almost everything here is colored maize and blue. The football team is the Wolverines. And “Go Blue” is the local battlecry.
Even though I have spent precious little time in this city on the banks of the Huron River, I thought it might be fun to share some initial impressions. And as I mentioned before signing off in Albany, there is still some unfinished business there as well.
But first thing’s first.
There are a few notable differences out here. People say pop instead of soda. Boston cream donuts aren’t a thing, rather they are called chocolate custard. That is to differentiate them from chocolate cream donuts, which are filled with something between buttercream and frosting. I experienced something similar in New Jersey, and know that Albany Jane loves these sickeningly sweet specimens. Hot dogs are called Coneys, but they still come with the mustard, onion, and chili sauce combo I’ve grown to know and love from the Watervliet triangle. Except out in Michigan, their weiners are full sized.
The shops that sell coneys are also called “Coneys”, and they are kind of like diners. But oddly we also have places which are just called “Diners”. Perhaps one day I’ll better understand the Diner and Coney divide, because right now that’s a regional curiosity.
We have 7-Elevens, and Vernors flows from the Slurpee machines, which is kind of awesome. Still, we miss Stewart’s for its eggs, milk, and ice cream. Speaking of ice cream, I still haven’t found anything as good as The Dutch Udder out in these parts. So if you’re in Troy, hopefully you can hop in there and have a scoop for me.
Yes, Ann Arbor has decent pizza places. There are event spots to get pizza by the slice. And just in the nick of time, we’re getting a Joe’s Pizza from NYC right on the edge of campus. Unfortunately, I haven’t yet made the pilgrimage to Detroit for the all important Detroit-style pizza tour. But this unique Motor City variation is having a moment. Not just here, but all around the country, and I’m thrilled to be at the epicenter of it all.
More than pizza, the go to, inexpensive, delicious, quickly served food in these parts are pita wraps. The pita parlors around this town are amazing. It’s like a pita paradise. And I’m not even talking about driving into Dearborn for the brick oven baked to order pita from Al Ameer. These pitas are like more burritos, not quite as long as one’s forearm, which are slathered with garlic sauce and stuffed with things like falafel, grilled eggplant, hummus, feta, tabouli, and shawarma. The best part is you can find excellent ones for around $5.
Besides that, I have been exploring are the area’s independent donut shops. While I have my favorite of the four, what I really want is a franken-donut that combines the custard of one, with the shell of another, and the chocolate icing of a third. Alone, none of them quite measure up to Bella Napoli or The Cookie Factory. Although there is one spot in Ann Arbor for glazed donuts which beats the glazed at all the places I’ve left behind.
Speaking of sweets, the middle easters sweet shops of Dearborn are a treasure. I’ve only been to two, and it’s lucky they are a bit of a drive, otherwise I’d need to buy larger pants.
Sadly, I’m still far from a Wegmans. The closest one is over a four hour drive away. However, we do have an Ikea nearby. More importantly, there is a local place with dim sum carts for weekend brunches, and an Ethiopian restaurant right in the heart of downtown.
When I asked a local about unique regional foods, the only thing they could come up with was beer. And it’s true, there are a lot of breweries in the area. I’ve tried a bunch of their beers, but have only visited one of the breweries. Interestingly HOMES has a chef from Buffalo, and I’m told he makes good wings. Soon, I hope to put them to the test.
And yes, there is Zingerman’s, and it’s a fantastic place that’s filled with all kinds of delicious delights. I’m an unapologetic corned beef and pastrami snob, so I’m not evaluating the place on the quality of its sandwiches. But the cases in the deli are filled with simply remarkable products. I’ve only been once, and parking was a nightmare. However, after talking with some people who live in that neighborhood, I think I’ve figured out the solution to the problem.
Even out here people obsess about parking. The good news is that downtown Ann Arbor has a ton of it. Seriously, I think Albany could learn a thing or two about the urban design of this community. As it turns out, when you build plenty of parking, people come from all around.
Whew! All of this is just barely scratching the surface of what I discovered in August. I suppose this is what happens when you give up daily blogging.
But there are a few guest posts waiting in the wings, and maybe, just maybe, I can convince someone in the Capital Region to take on the final Tour de Cider Donut before it’s too late in the season. There was a volunteer months ago, but I need to confirm they are still interested. Plus I have a few new food rants that I need to get off my chest. And then, I’ll be happy to elaborate about some of the above thoughts on Ann Arbor’s food and culture.
All of which is to say, the FLB is back for now, even if it may be on a more limited basis. Go Blue!
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