456. Cairo Coffee – December 31, 2019 – Detroit, MI

I know New Year’s Eve harkens to champagne in terms of liquid imbibing, but it was a cozy cappuccino that was in order during my afternoon jaunt to Cairo Coffee on the last day of 2019 (the bubbly stuff came later).

The coffee house occupies a nook of Savvy Chic, a shop that sells fashionable clothes, accessories, home goods, and gift items (and which I need to revisit to explore! It wasn’t open for business on the day of my visit) that’s based in the Eastern Market neighborhood of Detroit.

I would classify Cairo Coffee as the tiny-homes version of coffee houses, occupying as it does minimal space with its barista counter and two tables. But it’s small-yet-mighty, this coffee shop! And as with any tiny home worth its salt, Cairo Coffee makes good use of its allotted space, offering a variety of beverages, including pour-over coffee and espresso- and tea-based drinks, plus baked goodies.

The barista working Cairo Coffee’s counter on the day of my visit was pleasant and welcoming and made me an EXCELLENT cappuccino, well-flavored and delicious to savor. I sat at one of the tables and read a book I’d brought while I sipped it.

Speaking of books: Cairo Coffee has its own lending library from which patrons can check out items (again, this business is making the most of limited space – see the bookshelves built into the barista counter in the photo above!).

Friendly vibes, fresh-brewed caffeinated goodness, AND a library? Now THAT is a swoon-worthy combination for this coffee house-loving bookworm!

2712 Riopelle St.

Detroit, MI 48207

(Closed Sundays and Mondays)

www.cairocoffeeblog.wordpress.com

455. Discount Candles and Blessings – December 31, 2019 – Detroit, MI

On the last day of 2019, a Detroit jaunt was in order! A visit to Discount Candles and Blessings in the Eastern Market neighborhood seemed like an appropriate way to prepare to usher in the new year.

The shop sells candles in tall glass jars, many of which are emblazoned with intentions, such as the Block Breaker!! candle I procured during my visit. There are candles that encourage the finding of love, the winning of the lottery, the victorious resolution of legal disputes (see the amusingly titled Other Lawyer be Stupid candle). There are candles depicting saints and ones branded with signs of the zodiac (I got one of those, too). Crystals, herbs, incense, essential oils, and other items of a spiritual bent are also sold.

I found the candles I bought at Discount Candles to be affordably priced; they cost around $7 each and are long-burning.

When candles are purchased at the shop, they can be dressed for an extra charge: anointed with essential oil and blessed, upping the goods-vibes ante. Another cool feature of Discount Candles on the day of my visit was a burn bin, where patrons could incinerate lists of things they wanted to rid themselves of before entering the new year.

Whether you are into spiritual shops or simply a candle devotee, this place is worth a visit!

1484 Gratiot Ave.

Detroit, MI 48207

 

454. The Balkan House – December 30, 2019 – Ferndale, MI

Look at you, The Balkan House, coming in at the 11th hour in 2019 to infuse my gastronomical-year-that-was with some WOW!

I had the first döner kebab of my life at the Ferndale-based restaurant, and I’m OBSESSED.

I hadn’t heard of this Turkish pita sandwich that’s popular in Germany until I stumbled across a Detroit Free Press article on The Balkan House last month. My mouth watered as I read about the restaurant’s signature dish, consisting of a Balkan pita bread called lepinja stuffed with gyro meat, onion, tomato, cucumber, lettuce, and purple cabbage and slathered in a garlicky yogurt sauce. Yes, yes, and yes, screamed my taste buds: this was a dish I had to try!

Fortuitously, I would be in close proximity to The Balkan House’s recently-opened Ferndale storefront a few days after reading that article. The original, Hamtramck-based location opened last summer, offering classic Balkan fare such as grah (bean soup) and cevapi (Bosnian sausages), plus that döner kebab, which people apparently went crazy over (how did I miss that???) – leading The Balkan House owner to expand operations.

Stepping inside the interior of the long, narrow restaurant on the afternoon of my visit, I queued up to the counter, scoping out the menu above it. My choice was easy: I was there to try that döner kebab, which is served at The Balkan House with lamb-and-beef-based gyro meat (my choice), chicken, or falafel. It also comes with a side of fries.

I gave my order, paid, and took a seat at one of the tables in the restaurant. My food arrived quickly, a hefty pita sandwich accompanied by an ample serving of fries.

I took my first bite of that döner kebab, and O.M.G., was I greeted by EPIC DELICIOUSNESS!!!

The lepinja bread was so soft and pillowy, the gyro meat both tender and crispy and so well-seasoned – by far the best gyro meat I’ve ever had. And that garlic sauce, and those fresh, crunchy veggies . . . all I can say is WOW, WOW, and WOW! I can’t use that exclamatory word enough here – The Balkan House’s döner kebab warrants the excitement.

I practically inhaled that döner kebab and the perfectly soft-on-the-inside, crispy-on-the-outside French fries that accompanied it. I ate the whole thing then and there and left feeling full and satisfied. It was one of those “Now THAT was a meal!” moments, a moment that I live for and love to savor afterwards.

I’m sure the other items on The Balkan House’s menu are wonderful, and I’d be curious to try them; I’m not well-versed with Balkan food (despite being of Croatian descent), and I love experiencing new-to-me cuisines. But I have a feeling The Balkan House is going to be one of those places where I return and order the same thing over and over again, because how will I be able to resist the sweet siren call of that döner kebab??? It’s a special dish indeed, and I’m glad I got to add the act of eating it to my collection of magical culinary experiences of 2019.

314 W. 9 Mile Rd.

Ferndale, MI 48220

(With an additional location in Hamtramck)

www.balkanhouse-restaurant.business.site

453. 313 Pizza Bar – December 28, 2019 – Lake Orion, MI

Detroit-style pizza = my heart. I love that doughy, crispy, greasy, cheesy, saucy stuff! So of course I had to visit the recently opened 313 Pizza Bar in downtown Lake Orion.

Full disclosure: I’m related to one of the owners of this place. But familial bias aside, my conclusion after my visit is that 313 Pizza Bar is proffering up some very tasty pizza!

The restaurant is in downtown Lake Orion, on the site of the former Lockhart’s BBQ. The building is bringing the industrial vibes, all brick walls and bare-bulb lighting and exposed ductwork. There’s a cozy bar area on the first floor, with strands of twinkle lights strung above it. During my visit, I sat in the second-floor dining area, which has its own bar area and a wall of windows offering views of the cityscape outside.

Besides offering signature and build-your-own pizza options, 313 Pizza Bar serves appetizers such as bruschetta, cheese bread, and meatballs, plus hearty sandwiches (here’s looking at you, Muffuletta and Philly Cheesesteak!) and salads (so you can counterbalance the doughy, crispy, greasy, cheesy, saucy aspect of the meal with some greens).

While the appetizers and sandwiches sounded appealing, I was at 313 Pizza Bar for its namesake dish, so I zeroed in on that Signature Pizzas section. Many intriguing choices were showcased there: see the Spicy Sausage and Peppers with its mix of hot Italian sausage, banana peppers, green peppers, and red onion and the Tangy BBQ Chicken with its Tangy Carolina BBQ Sauce – both prime options for revisit meals for me. But it was the Chicken Pesto pizza that captured our collective attention during this meal, along with individually-sized salads (the Green Garden for me, the Antipasto for my fellow diners).

Our salads came out quickly, beds of greens loaded up with ingredients. The Antipasto salad was especially stacked with goodies: salami and ham and cheese and chickpeas, artichoke hearts and cherry tomatoes and cucumber and black olives and banana peppers. I enjoyed my Green Garden salad with its crispy croutons and spicy banana peppers.

Then it was on to the main course! The Chicken Pesto pizza arrived in all of its cheesy, crispy-crusted glory. The large-sized pizza contained eight pieces and was essentially two, four-slice pizzas, meaning that every piece was one of the much-beloved corner pieces (WOO-HOO!).

With its crust that was both doughy and crispy (YEAH, Detroit-style pizza!), its flavorful pesto sauce and thick layer of mozzarella cheese studded with chunks of chicken breast and fresh garlic dusted in Parmesan and pecorino romano, this Chicken Pesto pizza was delicious! I savored several pieces of it, gorging on its rich, carb-and-dairy-laden goodness.

Oh, Detroit-style pizza, how you sustain me during these stark winter days! Thank you, 313 Pizza Bar, for being a purveyor of this much-beloved local delicacy!

37 E. Flint St.

Lake Orion, MI 48362

www.313pizza-bar.com

 

452. Lucky Coffee – December 15, 2019 – Detroit, MI

On a Sunday afternoon back in mid-December, I visited (without consciously planning it) two establishments with the word “lucky” in their monikers: Pho Lucky and Lucky Coffee.

Probably I should have bought a lottery ticket that day, with all that coincidental emphasis on the word lucky hailing from the Universe. Well, I missed that opportunity, but I still feel like I hit the jackpot that day, because I discovered how lovely Lucky Coffee is!

The Corktown-based coffee shop is on the second floor of Detroit Barber Co. To get to Lucky Coffee, you enter the barber shop and go up a flight of stairs near the front door, then navigate through a suite of barber chairs on the second floor. The coffee house is beyond them, in its own room.

Once there, you feel like you are in another world, a cozy, bygone world. Lucky Coffee has an antique-saloon feel to it – except that coffee, tea, and espresso drinks are being slung instead of vodka, scotch, and whiskey. (Baked goodies are available, too.)

Speaking of booze, Lucky Coffee does offer a vanilla bourbon latte, which I ordered during my visit. It was rich and sweet, a delight to savor; it reminded me of toasted marshmallows. According to the barista on duty when I remarked on that to him, I was the only one to have theretofore made that flavor-profile comparison (I hope he knows I meant it as a compliment; it was tasty!). If you visit Lucky Coffee and get that vanilla bourbon latte, you’ll have to share in the comments section below whether you agree with my assessment!

Because I enjoyed hanging out so much at Lucky Coffee, soaking in its brick walls and plank floors and grand wood-fronted counter and crystal chandeliers and strings of bare lightbulbs and old-timey memorabilia (a mounted moose head; a striped barber’s pole; a rusted tin sign advertising prescriptions) and the sunshine streaming in from the window I perched near, I opted for another drink after I finished that vanilla bourbon latte. Consulting with the barista over tea lattes, I ordered the Earl Grey latte that he recommended; he said he’d concocted the syrup himself.

What beautifully nuanced flavor that latte had! I love Earl Grey tea, but I’ve noticed how the flavor profile varies from brand to brand; the bergamot flavor isn’t consistent, and sometimes I find it to be too weak. This latte had the perfect amount of bergamot flavor, in my opinion, as well as a nice sweetness.

My visit to Lucky Coffee left me buoyed by caffeine and contentment – and certainly feeling fortunate that I’d discovered another awesome indie coffee shop in the area (no lottery win required for those good vibes!).

2000 Michigan Ave., 2nd Fl.

Detroit, MI 48216

www.luckydetroit.com

451. Pho Lucky – December 15, 2019 – Detroit, MI

A gloomy, chilly winter’s day is SO the ideal time to enjoy a steaming bowl of pho. Let Pho Lucky be the facilitator of that experience for you!

I visited Pho Lucky’s Detroit location on a Sunday afternoon in mid-December. I was excited to learn that the restaurant located on Woodward Avenue in downtown Detroit has it own free parking area; it’s behind the restaurant, noted by signs. HOORAY to this rarity of free parking downtown!

Once sat at a table inside the restaurant, I appreciated Pho Lucky’s long, window-lined dining room offering up views of the cityscape outside and what natural light was to be had at the moment. I scoped out the menu and was tempted by photos of Pho Lucky’s vermicelli bowls, laden as they were with plentiful portions of meat and noodles topped with lettuce, herbs, bean sprouts, peanuts, and green onion.

But I had come for Pho Lucky’s signature dish, the pho, and I knew I’d be disappointed if I left without trying it. So I turned my attention away from the vermicelli bowls and rice plates and onto its namesake dish.

Pho Lucky offers twelve different varieties of pho at its Detroit location. It defines the popular Vietnamese dish on its menu as “served in a bowl of clear beef broth, with thinly sliced rare eye round steak, cooked beef, meat balls, tendon and beef tripes; alongside húng quế (Asian basil), cilantro, lime, bean sprouts, hoisin sauce and siracha.” Yum, yum, and yum!

I didn’t opt for the pho variety that contains all of those aforementioned meats, the House Special – mostly because I haven’t yet been able to convince myself to try tripe (game to make this a 2020 culinary goal, Self?). Instead, I ordered the P4, the Phở Tái, Chín, Bò Viên. This pho contained the rare eye round steak, cooked beef, and beef meat balls.

The meal came out quickly, a bountiful, steaming bowl of broth loaded with meat and noodles and accompanied by a plate piled with bean sprouts, Asian basil, fresh sliced jalapeño, and a lime wedge.

I squeezed some lime juice into the pho, generously topped it with add-ons, and took my first bite. It was delicious! With its warm broth, hearty meats, ample rice noodles (long and ideal for slurping!), and fresh veggie toppings, I was all about Pho Lucky’s pho. For good measure, I added in hearty amounts of sriracha (because no dish can ever be too spicy in my book!).

Facing the chill outdoors was more bearable as I left Pho Lucky with a full stomach, ample leftovers, and a warmed spirit (successful new-place visits always bring on the warm-and-fuzzies for me!). Regardless of time of year, this Vietnamese restaurant is worth a visit – but oh, how satisfying its namesake dish is during these gray-skied winter days!

3111 Woodward Ave.

Detroit, MI 48201

(with additional locations in Novi, Redford, and Southfield)

www.pholucky.net