It’s a Detroit Thing!

First, my apologies for being away so long – another one of those times when life catches up with me and has other plans. I promise to do better and have some ideas for future blog posts. I hope you stick around and continue to support my blog. Now to business.
Every locale throughout these United States has aspects, sites, history and yes food that helps to define them. Cincinnati has chili, Boston has chowder and beans, Cleveland has pierogi and Poor Boys, Chicago has deep dish pizza, even West Virginia can be defined to a large degree by it’s regional favorites of pepperoni rolls and ramps. I’ve been living in metro Detroit now for over a year and I have to admit, while it isn’t home or as quaint as Norwalk, Ohio; it does offer some wonderful aspects and I’m even feeling more like a local, if not a transplanted one. In the year I’ve been here I’ve discovered those foods that help define Detroit and it’s metro area. I hope to do my new “during the week” home some justice and let Jeeves’s followers in on some of the best kept secrets in this part of Michigan.
Coney Dogs are probably at the top of the list of most notable Detroit food. These are served at restaurants dubbed “Coney Islands” these restaurants are usually a unique type of Greek-American establishments. The two most well-known Coney islands in Detroit are Lafayette and American which are located in adjacent buildings on Lafayette Blvd. Both Coney islands share a heritage with that of Greek immigrants Gus and Bill Keros whom established the original Coney Island of Detroit in 1915. Like many families do – they had a disagreement and went their separate ways, splitting their businesses that still exist side by side today in downtown Detroit. I enjoy two of these, every Tuesday during customer appreciation day at Great Lakes Coney Island in Farmington Hills. Joey the owner and my very good friend calls it our anniversary day, since the 1st time I ever ate there was on a Tuesday. Coney Dogs are a very important part of every Detroiter diet, whether they like them or not.
Square Pizza is Detroit style pizza, not “as” common anywhere else. It’s a Sicilian style pie that has thick crust that is soft and chewy, yet crisp on the bottom and topped with whatever toppings you heart desires. Pepperoni is usually baked on top of the cheese and is known as old world style. The square size comes from being baked in square pans which are more than often not pizza pans but industrial parts trays. There are several locations that are mainstays for many neighborhoods and most have multiple locations, such as Buddy’s. Every Detroiter has their favorite whether it is Cloverleaf in Eastpointe, Shields and Loui’s both in Hazel Park or Buddy’s which has location through-out metro Detroit.
Faygo is the pop (not soda here) choice here. Faygo got it’s start in 1907 by the Feigenson Brothers Bottling Works. The Feigenson’s were bakers from Russia and in the beginning offered, fruit punch, grape and strawberry flavors as these flavors were based on their cake-frosting recipes. Faygo popularity was evident by the Insane Clown Posse (a Detroit hip-hop band) that referenced Faygo in many of their songs. Rock-n-Rye is a favorite flavor of many and is much like the flavor of Dr. Pepper as is Red Pop and Root Beer, which has one an award from Bon Appetite for best Root Beer flavor in the nation
Vernors was created by a Detroit pharmacist, James Vernor in 1866. Vernors for most of its life has been a regional franchise with locations outside of Michigan in Toledo, Cleveland and Buffalo. Just before the civil war started James Vernor a clerk at Higby & Sterns drugstore worked tirelessly to recreate a ginger ale that was like one he had from Dublin, Ireland. There were 19 ingredients that he played with trying to recreate the taste. Vernor was eventually sent to war and he stored the ingredients in an oak barrel. Four years later after the war he opened the barrel and the drink he had formulated prior to the war had changed by the aging process of the wood. It was declared “Deliciously different”.
Better Made Potato Chips was founded in 1930 after Pete Cipriano and Cross Moceri bought a potato chip factory in the city. The chips were among thirty-one other potato chip companies at that time in the city. Sales of their chips grew, and the company moved to it’s present location on Gratiot. Over the next decades the company offered new additions to their snack lineup, including wavy chips in 1955, BBQ, Cheese, Red Hot and popcorn was offered during the 1960’s. For almost 90 years metro Detroiters have been enjoying these chips and they are a household name for families throughout Detroit and even in to Toledo.
And there is no better way to finish a food story than with the inclusion of something sweet and delectable. I discovered a luscious cake at a meeting I attended for my company, you know there is always the morning meeting foods of donuts, bagels and muffins – but at this meeting I opened a lone box to discover these absolutely delicious treats….called ….
Bumpy Cake was created originally by the Sanders Confectionary Company in the early 1900’s. It is made of devil’s food caked topped with decadent buttercream bumps and covered in thick rich ganache – yes…are you salivating too? They are delicious and I discovered that you can also purchase other flavors, but I just have to say…why? Some people call them covered wagons and I’ve seen competitor bakeries that call them Ripple Cakes – but let me be perfectly clear there is only one true Bumpy Cake and that is from Sanders.
Detroit gets a bad rap for many reasons but in the year that I have lived here I’ve learned that this city is no different than any other city, it’s just bigger and it is the Motor City, so a lot of attention is focused on it. So, the next time you’re in southeast Michigan try to enjoy some of the local offerings I’ve mentioned – you won’t be sorry and you may for a little while feel like a Detroiter!