In Bizarre Foods Detroit, part of the Delicious Destinations series featuring Andrew Zimmern, the host and his crew visited numerous restaurants in the city, showcasing a variety of unique and delicious dishes. Here is a convenient list of all the addresses and dishes highlighted in this exciting exploration of Detroit’s food scene.
ANDREW ZIMMERN DETROIT DISH – Detroit-Style Pizza
WHAT IS IT?
Detroit-style pizza is a rectangular pizza with a thick crust, topped with pepperoni, cheese, and tomato sauce. The fresh dough is used within four hours, pressed into seasoned blue steel pans, and topped with ground Wisconsin brick cheese and pepperoni. After a final two-hour rise, light tomato sauce are added to the top to prevent a soggy crust. The pizzas are cooked for exactly 13 and a half minutes in a conveyor belt oven.
WHERE IS IT?
Buddy’s Pizza
Madison Building, 1565 Broadway St, Detroit, MI 48226, United States
Detroit, United States
NOTES – DELICIOUS DESTINATIONS DETROIT
Buddy’s Rendezvous owner Gus Guerrera added a Sicilian-style pizza to the menu in 1946 for soldiers returning from Italy after World War 2. A Sicilian board waitress helped perfect the recipe, and Guerrera found that rectangular blue steel utility pans made for holding small parts in nearby tool and dye shops were perfect for baking the dish pizza.
DISH – Coney Dog
WHAT IS IT?
The origin of the coney dog is disputed. While there is no Coney Island in Michigan, Detroit is one of several cities that claim the smoked frankfurter topped with chili sauce, onions, and mustard in a steamed bun. The hot dog is made of 90% beef and 10% lamb, seared to retain its juices, and served on a steamed bun. A special chili sauce is added on top, along with tangy yellow mustard and sweet Vidalia onions.
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WHERE IS IT?
American Coney Island
114 W Lafayette Blvd, Detroit, MI 48226, United States
Detroit, United States
NOTES – DELICIOUS DESTINATIONS DETROIT
The coney dog’s origin is a topic of debate, but it’s thought that Greek immigrants brought the recipe to the West after being inspired by Brooklyn’s Coney Island during their journey through New York in the early 1900s.
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ANDREW ZIMMERN DETROIT DISH – Shawarma
WHAT IS IT?
Shawarma is a Middle Eastern dish consisting of thinly shaved slow-roasted beef and lamb, served in a pita or over rice. The marinade is essential to its flavor, and the chef’s recipe includes a blend of fresh-ground nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, and other spices. Tahini and a seasoning sauce made of garlic emulsified oil, water, lemon, and vinegar add creaminess and tang. The acidic marinade both flavors and tenderizes the meat, which is then layered and packed onto a vertical spit and cooked until the fat bastes and caramelizes the meat. Slicing the shawarma is a skillful task that requires starting from the outside and producing an even mix of caramelized and tender bits in every order.
WHERE IS IT?
Al Ameer
12710 W Warren Ave, Dearborn, MI 48126, United States
Detroit, United States
NOTES – DELICIOUS DESTINATIONS DETROIT
Starting in the 1890s, immigrants from Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Palestine began settling in Michigan. By the early 1900s, many had found employment at the massive River Rouge plant in Dearborn, establishing the largest Arab community outside of the Middle East.
ANDREW ZIMMERN DETROIT DISH – Kunufa
WHAT IS IT?
Kunufa is a warm pastry made of sweet semolina dough, clarified butter, and food coloring. The dough is transformed into a stringy pastry using a machine from Nablus, coated with butter and ground twice. The pastry is then assembled with semi-hard goat’s milk cheese from Nablus, and cooked in a rotating gas oven. Finally, it is soaked in simple syrup and given a final spin over the heat.
WHERE IS IT?
Masri Sweets
5755 Schaefer Rd, Dearborn, MI 48126, United States
Detroit, United States
NOTES – DELICIOUS DESTINATIONS DETROIT
Khader Masri, the owner, comes from Palestine where his father had a pastry shop specializing in kunufa. Although he trained as an accountant, he discovered his passion for continuing the family tradition.
BIZARRE FOODS DELICIOUS DESTINATIONS DETROIT DISH – Soul Food
WHAT IS IT?
This restaurant serves soul food classics such as collard greens, mac & cheese, and braised oxtail. The oxtail is generously seasoned with onions, celery, and Martha’s secret blend, then braised in the oven until tender. Customers can choose from a variety of dishes at the steam table, including fried chicken, smothered pork chops, ribs, black eyed peas, and more, and customize their meal with their choice of sides. This is Detroit’s unique take on the Southern meat-and-three dining tradition.
WHERE IS IT?
Motor City Soul Food
12700 W Seven Mile Rd, Detroit, MI 48235, United States
Detroit, United States
NOTES – BIZARRE FOODS DELICIOUS DESTINATIONS DETROIT
The great migration brought numerous African Americans from the rural South to Detroit in search of employment in the factories, and with them, they brought their regional Southern food traditions. As a result, Detroit’s soul food is not a distinct style but rather a blend of various Southern styles.
BIZARRE FOODS DELICIOUS DESTINATIONS DETROIT DISH – City Chicken
WHAT IS IT?
The dish called “city chicken” is not made of chicken, but rather breaded pork that is fried and skewered to resemble a drumstick. The chef uses pork butt, marinating it with salt and pepper before skewering it onto wooden skewers. The skewers are then coated with flour, egg wash, and rye bread crumbs before being fried in lard for a crunchy exterior. The pork is finished in the oven and served with sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, and gravy.
WHERE IS IT?
Polish Village Cafe
2990 Yemans St, Hamtramck, MI 48212, United States
Detroit, United States
NOTES – BIZARRE FOODS DELICIOUS DESTINATIONS DETROIT
The Polish immigrants brought city chicken to Hamtramck in the early 20th century. Hamtramck is a 2.2 square miles city surrounded by Detroit, and was home to many auto assembly plants and Polish autoworkers. Today, it is one of the most diverse cities in the nation. Although the Polish population has moved on, places like Polish Village Cafe continue to serve as vibrant portals to the past.
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