The Detroit Foodie

Local Detroit vendor, Eli Tea, delivers quality loose leaf teas in a variety of aromatic flavors from Oolong to Lavender, accompanied by ingredients that reflect these subtleties & nuances. What I love most is the thoughtfulness behind their product! Eli (himself) carefully crafts each tea, ensuring that the ingredient is either (a.) All natural (b.) Organic (c.) Harvested in the States or (d.) Fair-Trade. Such a great philosophy!!!

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C O L O R A D O   L A V E N D E R

Scenic mountains, rocky hill sides, and sunny days, make Colorado the prime location for Lavender cultivation. This tea uses organic lavender and the aroma is absolutely divine! This highly aromatic tea, has a surprisingly subtle flavor. Definitely a favorite!!!

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K E N Y A N   S A F A R I   W H I T E

White Tea undergoes the minimal amount of fermentation, and yields a gentle brew with a near non-existent amount of caffeine. This is a perfect tea if you want something light & airy, with just an ever-so-slight subtle sweet flavor!

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T R A V E R S E   C I T Y   C H E R R Y   F E S T I V A L

Best served as an ice tea, this flavor was inspired by the Traverse City Cherry Festival (hence the name). Ingredients include: Michigan Dried Cherries, Fair-Trade Hibiscus, Rose Petals, and Cinnamon. Lovely floral flavors!

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C H A I   -   I N D I A N   M A S A L A

Masala is an umbrella term used to describe a blend of dry spices. This particular Chai is composed of Black Tea blended with Ginger, Cloves, Indian Cinnamon, Green Cardamom, and Whole Pepper. All these spices gives the tea great depth of flavor. As Eli suggests, brew with Milk for a traditional Masala Chai experience.

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Where to buy Eli Tea? Online or THESE locations!

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April 6, 2014 | 7:00 PM | 2900 E. Grand Blvd - Detroit, MI | $5 Admission

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Detroit Soup is a community event where you learn about creative projects happening in Detroit, vote on which project to fund with the money raised from the meal that night, and enjoy a light dinner consisting of soup, salad, bread, & dessert.

Operating out of MOCAD is the vegan counterpart to Russell Street Deli’s newest restaurant venture, Topsoil. After dining in a couple times, consistency seems to be a MAJOR downfall. Whether it’s the sesame noodles, curry, or kale salad you’ll find that these dishes are either extremely bland OR extremely flavorful. So there’s definitely room for improvement. One item worth ordering is their delectably refreshing Mint Iced Tea!

Location: 4454 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI | Phone: (313) 567-2900

Motor City Wine is hosting a pop-up dinner tonight (March 23rd) from 5-9pm:

$5 APPLE SALAD

Peanut Curry Sauce, Cashew, Coconut, Cilantro

$7 DRUNKEN PARSNIPS

Whiskey, Crushed Peanuts, Chili, Basil, Egg, Bean Sprouts

$10 BEEF TARTARE

Kimchi Yolk, Black Garlic, Maple, Crisp Scallion, Grilled Toast

$10 ROASTED DUCK BROTH UDON

Lemongrass, Soft Bolied Egg, Mushroom, Scallion

$5 BUTTERMILK ICE CREAM

Rock & Rye Bubbles, Coconut, Rye Whiskey, Pocky

Fellow readers, I’d like to introduce to you Detroit’s most underrated Middle Eastern restaurant, Harmonie Garden. Waiting at your fingertips is a treasure trove of delicious Arabic cuisine! The menu consists of staple dishes (falafel, tabbouli, shwarma, fatoush, etc), Syrian specialties (the breakfast dish pictured below is fantastic), and unique takes on classic Middle Eastern dishes. Where else can you find a Falafel Burger, Pink Hummus, and menu items named & inspired by customers?

Taheer, the owner of Harmonie Garden, is the mad genius behind this unique twist on Middle Eastern cuisine. He ensures quality ingredients are being used and he takes a genuine approach in getting to know his customers. There’s an authenticity to this restaurant, that is distinctly Detroit. I highly recommend visiting Harmonie Garden and be sure to tell Taheer I said hello!

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FACTS: (1.) Buffet every Sunday from 10am-3pm for $10  (2.) Harmonie Garden’s in-house made Falafel is used by most Dearborn restaurants.

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Location: 4704 Anthony Wayne Dr Detroit, MI | Phone: (313) 638-2345

The epitome of an authentic hole-in-the-wall is Taqueria Valente. Located in a non-descript building (labeled El Roble aka The Oak) in Southwest Detroit’s gritty industrial alley, awaits a mouthwatering taco oasis. I first heard about the legend that is Taqueria Valente, after reading THIS fantastic article. Anyways, here’s the 411: (1.) Cash ONLY  (2.) Open Friday thru Sunday 11am-9pm  (3.) Park & Enter thru the back  (4.) Order their excellent Al Pastor tacos & deeelish Horchata!

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Location: 6426 W Fort St Detroit, MI 48209 | Phone: (313) 382-7787