537. Got Pho – December 5, 2021 – Ferndale, MI

Got Pho was a beacon of warmth on a blustery day!

The warmth came in the form of Got Pho’s Drunken Noodles with beef. The piping-hot noodles not only warmed my belly but delighted my taste buds. With their tender beef, rich sauce, fragrant Thai basil, and sautéed onion, green pepper, and bean sprouts, these Drunken Noodles were delicious! I ordered them without egg and still found them incredibly filling, with enough left over for a whole other meal.

Billing itself as Asian fusion, the Ferndale-based restaurant offers much more than those Drunken Noodles. As you may have guessed, its sells pho – seven different kinds, to be exact (including a vegan option for our plant-based friends). Got Pho’s menu also features Chinese favorites such as sesame and sweet and sour chicken; stir-frys and pad Thai; pad see ew and grilled short ribs . . . the list goes on and on! It’s a list worth checking out, and a restaurant most definitely worth a try.

172 W. Nine Mile Rd.

Ferndale, MI 48220

www.gotphoferndale.com

536. Inspire Marketplace – December 4, 2021 – Clinton Township, MI

Inspire Marketplace is a cornucopia of locally made, handcrafted goodies!

The shop based at The Mall at Partridge Creek is bursting with the fruits of artisan creativity: mugs and shirts and artwork and candles, hats and bags and barbecue sauce. Much of the work is handmade, and much of it is Michigan-centric.

There are coasters featuring Detroit landmarks, preserves made from Michigan cherries, wine bottles filled with twinkle lights, works of art lauding lake culture, and so much more.

Buying locally made, handmade holiday gifts from a locally owned business – how could you go wrong?

17420 Hall Rd.

(Inside The Mall at Partridge Creek)

Clinton Twp., MI 48038

(With an additional location at Twelve Oaks Mall in Novi)

www.inspire-marketplace.art

535. Sabbath Coffee Roasters – November 28, 2021 – Clawson, MI

Sabbath Coffee Roasters made a snowy Sunday morning extra special!

I visited the coffee house based in downtown Clawson over the Thanksgiving weekend, after the first real snow of the season. I was up early that Sunday and in the mood for some coffee shop time. So I headed to the locally-owned shop that roasts its own beans and serves coffee, tea, and espresso drinks – including a very dreamy-looking frozen oat milk latte. (It’s served from a frozen drink machine: the creamy, caffeinated version of a slushie.)

Walking into the tiny shop, I realized there was no seating; it’s carryout only. I was bummed – but still excited to try one of Sabbath’s cappuccinos. I ordered one with oat milk and savored its creaminess and rich espresso flavor as I headed out into the snowy landscape. It was a picturesque scene: sparkling white and quiet – the perfect backdrop for a piping-hot beverage.

Something I really appreciated about Sabbath – besides that tasty cappuccino – was the fact that the barista who made it took the time to engage in conversation with me. She asked me what I had planned for the day, seemed genuinely interested in what I had to say, and shared her plans, as well. It was a refreshing moment of connection that brightened my day – and reminded me that it doesn’t take much to positively connect with others. So thank you for that, my Sabbath barista friend!

Speaking of connection and community: what a hard week this past one was in Metro Detroit. Thinking about everyone experiencing the tragedy in Oxford and sending you love. May you have a caring community of supporters around you, to walk with you through this terrible time.

24 E. 14 Mile Rd.

Clawson, MI 48017

www.sabbathcoffeeroasters.com