544. James Oliver Coffee Company – January 18, 2022 – Detroit, MI

A visit to James Oliver Coffee Company’s Corktown café made for a sweet Tuesday morning!

I visited the indie coffee shop for some work-from-home-away-from-home time. This was my first time working in a coffee shop since I got a 100%-remote job two years ago, and it was an absolute delight!

It wasn’t my first time inside the Detroit-based building’s interior. James Oliver opened this café in the building that once housed Detroit Institute of Bagels (R.I.P.!). While I’m sad that the locally-owned bagel shop is no more, I’m happy that the business taking its place is just as wonderful. James Oliver’s coffee- and tea-based drinks are delicious, and the staff is lovely. Plenty of seating options are available in the bright, cozy café, including barista-counter seating and my favorite: window-facing counter seats that look out on Michigan Avenue. There’s a food menu, too, showcasing soups, salads, sandwiches, pastries, and bagels. Vegan options are available.

James Oliver roasts its own beans, offering multiple varietals, from Tanzania Peaberry to Costa Rican to the decadent Cinnamon Hazelnut Chocolate Blend. Check out its website for its current offerings and to order online.

For two hours, I worked in a pleasant flow of coffee shop camaraderie and caffeine (supplied by James Oliver’s cappuccino and matcha latte). It was exactly what I needed that day, the perfect home-away-from-home, with atmosphere and amenities that beckon me to return for another sojourn.

1236 Michigan Ave.

Detroit, MI 48226

www.jamesolivercoffee.com

543. Barleycorn’s Public House – January 12, 2022 – Shelby Township, MI

What a way to kick off my 2022 dining diary, with a visit to Barleycorn’s Public House!

The Shelby Township-based restaurant sure knows how to make a Wednesday night feel special! I dug its luxe yet inviting interior, its sage-colored walls, industrial-chic chandeliers, and brick-fronted bar with gleaming shelves of spirits, plants, and fancy knickknacks. I took a cozy seat at one of the wrap-around booths.

Barleycorn’s has an impressive bar selection, with a myriad of craft cocktails, beers on taps, and wines by the glass and bottle. I enjoyed a glass of pinot noir. And while I didn’t make it in time for Happy Hour, I appreciate that Barleycorn’s has a generous one. It runs from 2-6 p.m. on Sundays and Tuesdays through Fridays, and both food and drink specials are available, including a $10 Burger + Pint special.

Barleycorn’s food menu is a mix of starters, sandwiches, salads, flatbreads, and comfort-food-oriented entrées such as Fish and Chips, Brick Chicken (Chicken Marsala), Meatloaf, and Beef Tip and Portabella Gnocchi.

I opted for that Meatloaf, which was phenomenal! A rich gravy of caramelized onions and bacon jam coated the tender meat, which lay on a bed of creamy, smoked gouda-infused grits. Chunks of maple-glazed carrots were also infused with the delicious gravy. I know decadent isn’t the first word that comes to mind when you think meatloaf, but that’s what Barleycorn’s meatloaf is: decadent! It’s So. Very. GOOD. A girl could get used to eating such meatloaf!

And a girl could get used to visiting Barleycorn’s Public House. It’s a revisit-worthy type of place that can make any day feel like a singular treat!

50985 Hayes Rd.

Shelby Twp., MI 48315

www.barleycornspublichouse.com