Can I just set the table, invite you in, and pretend that no time has passed? If Marvel can do it, with all of their amazing idea people (I’m certain that’s their official title), marketing strategists, and infinite budget; I think I can. I’m going with it.
What’s different? Well, WordPress (my blog source) for one, so it’s going to take me a minute to figure this out. (Also, you may have noticed, not that long ago, ahem, I accidentally published an old rough draft. So embarrassing. Sorry about that.) In general, I’m a little older; I started a new part time job; I homeschool two of my children; and I found a YouTube program called “Country Life Vlog” that I love and highly recommend. But mostly, things are a lot the same. I feed my family; I do a lot dishes; I still have a strong love of cookbooks and molded bakeware… I still like to write.
So, I plan on writing more- because I am convinced it’s good practice (for writers to write). I’m dusting off my camera, as things go, so you may see more photos on Instagram. I am inviting you to the table, for the reason that I believe community and connection to humanity is good. There is something innate about it, for me, so here I am.
It was approaching the summer of 1994, the first time I had visited Paris, France. I was young and naive. I didn’t know a thing about traveling overseas, I barely knew about leaving the borders of Michigan. It was exciting, my first plane ride- and to Europe to boot! I knew nothing about Paris besides the three years of language lessons peppered by informative sessions of art and history. But I was taught by a French enthusiast, and I also knew it all. I knew how special this place was, the City of Lights; the City of Love; the people, the culture, the history, and I was ready to drink it in. I had a newly purchased cheap camera (in retrospect I should have saved for better). I had a ridiculously heavy suit case. I knew I looked like a tourist (the buses would have given it away anyway), but I was determined to not be a stereotyped American. I would try my best to speak the language, and courteously take it all in. I didn’t want to miss a thing. One of my traveling roommates journaled our experience, and I can’t tell you how many times over the years I’ve thought to contact her and ask for a copy. It was a whirlwind of invaluable memories. My less-than-amateur pictures will never do that trip justice. There were names of places I never thought I would forget, that I would give almost anything to remember.
But what I did not forget, what I could not forget, was Nôtre Dame. It was surrounded by the Seine with river boats, and artists with easels, just like I imagined it would be. There were people coming and going every which way along its’ seemingly endless stone-paved entrance way. It was under construction the year we were there. That’s the kind of thing a French Club field trip can’t plan around. But it didn’t matter. I was looking at an architectural masterpiece. It was stone, magnificent, gothic, religious, cold, warm, and striking. There were carvings of saints and gargoyles, twisted towers, and flying buttresses. I climbed stone stairs as far as permitted, the very same that people had been climbing for centuries… and I looked through three famous rose stained-glass windows. I fell in love with La Vitrine Rose.
It was the stained glass that I appreciated more than anything at Nôtre Dame. The carvings and architecture were marvels in their own right. But the warmth that came from those beautiful windows was a sight to behold. It was a colorful display of grandeur in an otherwise very monochromatic setting. The ceilings were unfathomably tall, but equally as hard to comprehend, was this artistry built right into the stone wall, nearly as high as the ceiling. The details were amazing, depicting various stories from the Bible. It was the windows, I imagined most, as the daylight poured their hues in, that I shared in delight with so many who came before me. And since all of my pictures of this came back black, I am thankful I purchased a small replica of La Vitrine Rose for my godmother, to hang in her window, next to her Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired stained glass art. It was because of this wonderfully detailed souvenir that I could show my family a glimpse of the beauty beheld in the famous cathedral of Nôtre Dame.
Almost a decade later, I made a second trip to Paris. This time with a group of girlfriends and my sister. Would you believe, the cathedral of Nôtre Dame was under construction again? Looking at my (slightly improved) pictures made me laugh, because the only way I can picture the cathedral is the way I see it in other people’s pictures. Perfect. We made the best of it, taking snapshots from the best (unconstructed) angles, and the side where we would actually take a boat ride down the Seine. A vantage point where I could capture an exterior view of one of those rose stained-glass windows.
After my godmother passed away, we collected a few personal keepsakes from her home in remembrance of her. When a woman in charge of her caregiving asked if we minded if she kept a small circular window-hanging that reminded her of my godmother, my first instinct was to say “sure”. Honestly, it was strangely uncharacteristic for me to retract my permission- it surprises me to this day. In reflection, I’m almost offended by her asking, although she had no way of knowing how special it was to me; or how over 20 years ago, I had purchased it for my godmother, or how proud I was that she hung it in her window; and how I was reminded of it all, the trip to Paris, Nôtre Dame, the beauty of the replicated piece, and the pride I had in my godmother loving it, on every visit…
Yesterday it was shocking to hear about the fire. The fire heard around the world. It’s one of those things you’ll feel like you’ll remember forever; like when people talk about where they were when Kennedy was shot, or the morning that unfolded the events of 9/11. It feels almost embarrassing to think I found out about it so impersonally on Facebook. It feels surreal to think about how much damage could be done in an afternoon, after centuries of preservation. It’s disturbing to simultaneously understand the devastation, and to have derived a place in my mind of almost un-shockable in the reality of a world full of destruction.
All of this. And yet this morning, while angry with myself for not being more organized to find pictures of my trips to Paris; while feeling gut-wrenched for a world of so many unwelcome changes outside of my control; while melancholy on a very grey and rainy day, I took comfort in the ease of locating my Vitrine Rose, and great solace in reading that the rose stained-glass windows of Nôtre Dame, although early in assessment, seem to be intact and minimally damaged. Hope endures.
Easter is right around the corner! That’s big news. According to GoodHousekeeping.com, “In 2018, Americans were estimated to have spent $18.2 billion on Easter.” That means we take our lilies, lamb cakes, and jelly beans very seriously. All kinds of research has been done to find out our resurrection day preferences (hey, they’ve got to sell us what we want). For example, do you know the best selling candy outside of chocolate? Peeps! More than 700 million Peeps are purchased in America during easter. And when eating our chocolate bunnies, 76% of Americans eat the head first. (PopSugar) Why that’s important, we don’t know… but a large portion of our population can relate!
What we do know, is that there is a charming candy store in town, Lolli & Pops, ready for you to explore. And they offer all kinds of candy so you can fill those baskets!
From hand crafted chocolate confections, to macarons, and specially flavored gummy bears, they’ve got you covered.
Looking for that Old World treat that grandma used to give, or that you fell for on a trip abroad? Give Lolli & Pops a shot.
Maybe you wish you could find that childhood favorite? A lasting sweet impression of yesteryear… It’s possible Lolli & Pops has that too. From classic turn of the century peppermint sticks or Mary Jane’s, to mid century lover’s Bit-O-Honey, and children of the 80’s Now & Laters… they’ve got it.
We appreciate a place that dedicates a whole section of their products to Nut & Allergen free, as well as, Sugar free for those with specific dietary needs. We also respect categorizing the shelves by appeal, such as “Don’t Be Sour,” for those who love to pucker and squint. But we really love when people get creative with their flavor profiles! Cereal Milk and Waffles & Syrup candy bars? We’re so curious… What do those taste like? Inquiring minds want to know!
So if you’re looking to fill those baskets with special and unique candy… If you want to brighten someone’s day with a thoughtful treat… If you just need to satisfy your own sweet tooth… We have an idea for you! Lolli & Pops!
Thank you Lolli & Pops of 12 Oaks Mall in Novi! If you are in the area, you can find them at 27494 Novi Rd Ste B, Novi, MI 48377 (248) 378-1006
Or, for a Location near you, try lolliandpops.com! (And they deliver 😉 )
Milford is a charming community with a picturesque downtown full of lovable shops and restaurants (we hope to feature all of them).
Smoke Street in downtown Milford is doing something right. “Our meats are smoked in-house for up to 12 hours with hickory and cherry wood. From spicy to sweet, to tangy and smoky, we have you covered with six homemade BBQ sauces. At our bar, we have 15 rotating draft beers, an eclectic choice of bottles and cans, as well as delicious craft cocktails.” Makes you hungry doesn’t it?
Something about this warmer weather just begs for good barbecue. But, first things first… Buffalo Tater Tots with Blue Cheese dressing make a great starter. If you like Buffalo Sauce… you are going to like these.
With a “Boss Hog” menu item, allowing us to sample a little bit of everything… well, that’s an easy one.
The pulled pork was tender, the brisket and chicken had a classic smoky savor, the sausage was really flavorful, and the sauces were good and fun to try. But I really love the little unexpected things, such as the sweet & spicy pickles! Such a nice, light, and tangy accompaniment with a dose of heat.
The collard greens were tasty too, honorable mention.
Our favorite way to eat the pulled pork nachos was with the Carolina Gold. It’s just a good combination.
One of our kids without fail will order chicken tenders and fries. Which means we will steal a fry… And to give props where props are due, Smoke Street does a stand up french fry. They kind of reminded us of the ones we make a b line for at a fair… you know the ones.
However, our absolute favorite thing at Smoke Street wasn’t a meat or BBQ sauce… it was the Killer Mac N’ Cheese.
Super creamy, topped with bacon & shallot breadcrumbs…
We’re a family of six, four, and two… A dozen when you’re trying to make reservations for Sadie’s and Rachel’s families, plus Granny and Gramps. Which is why we always love a restaurant that can accommodate a crowd. I think overall we have good kids, but they’re not church mice. So, when you create a fun casual atmosphere- like a large gathering place in a cleaned up oversized garage, well, that sounds like an invitation for real family and friends. And when you can have all of that with a unique, interesting menu- with genuine options for little picky eaters and upscale twists on classics for adventurous adults, then you have accomplished a major feat. That is Vinsetta Garage, an eclectic eatery with a custom Detroit menu on Woodward Avenue in Berkley, MI.
The food is a fusion of beloved bar classics and trendsetting cuisine. Tikka Fries, Farro Hash, and Brown Sugar-Glazed Salmon are just a few honorable mentions that the Vinsetta Garage has to offer. The Duck Burger had Rachel’s son with love at first bite. It was the Disco Fries, house-cut fries, with Ellsworth cheese curds, whole grain mustard gravy, chili flakes, and scallions, however, that were calling Sadie’s name.
It’s typical in our group that one or more person will order a pizza, even if it’s only for themselves; and they take most of it home for leftovers. (Who doesn’t appreciate pizza leftovers?) At Vinsetta’s you can get a tasty pepperoni and cheese pizza… but you can also get Sir Shakes’ Coney Pie with Winter’s 901-L hot dog, house-made coney chili, chopped white onions, cheese blend, smoked cheddar, and French’s mustard… serious coney/pizza lovers only please.
Does a menu item called Noodle Burger make you curious? Us too… Casserole-baked ground beef, smoked cheddar, elbow macaroni, and Woodshop MI maple bacon; think of it like a very mature version of the classic Hamburger Helper with a perfectly crisped cheesy topping. (Side of onion rings optional) Oh yeah, it’s good.
The place was relaxed, which makes for a comfortable experience, but it’s the attention to food-detail that will keep us coming back… right down to the potato chips, made in-house. (You know they must be tasty when Rachel doesn’t swap them out for fries.)
For more information check out VinsettaGarage.com or better yet, in person (and get that Faygo “Rock & Rye” ice cream) at 27799 Woodward Avenue, Berkley, Michigan 48072.
This ice cream is fun! It’s super creamy, focused on fresh ingredients, and the presentation is over the top. We’d been hearing the buzz, and now we know why! The smash and roll method ice cream shop started in Thailand, and quickly spread throughout Asia. In 2015, the founders made plans to take their idea across the Pacific. They opened the first shop New York City, and named it I-CE-NY. Now there are 20 locations in the country, two of them being in Ann Arbor and Novi, Michigan! Almost as fun as the ice cream was the server preparing it, thank you Donovan! We love it when the people behind the food are passionate about their fare. Since this was our first visit, we asked for recommendations: Donovan suggested the Strawberry Cheesecake and Biscoff Cookie Butter, so we replied, “we’ll take them both”. Not wanting to limit our options he mentioned the Banana Pudding was really good too. Good to know, “we’ll have one of those -also.” Struck by the beautiful photos on the counter top menu, we asked about the pretty lavender colored one. “To-Taro” he said, their “best seller”. “Add it to the list” we responded. “Ooh,” thought Sadie, the Vietnamese Iced Coffee sounds good to wash down all of this ice cream, “Rachel would you like a coffee?” she asked. “That’s an ice cream flavor” Donovan says. “Oh really? OK will try one of those too.” (We spent the rest of the day on the treadmill.)
How It’s Made
They start by pouring their cream on a frozen metal plate (that can get as cold as -15 degrees Fahrenheit). Next they use scrapers to mash and mix the toppings of your choice into your customized creamy creation. In just a couple minutes, the ice cream firms up. Then it’s spread into a thin layer, and scraped into rolls. They stand them up into a cup like a freshly rolled bouquet of ice cream and top it with a variety of fresh fruits, syrups, candies, cookie crumbs… Yeah.
Where to Begin?
It was hard to know which one to try first! Since pi(e) day, a couple days ago, Sadie had been craving banana cream so she started with Banana Pudding – Sweet cream ice cream, Nilla wafer, Banana, and Caramel sauce?…Yum. Decadent, but still fresh with the fruit, light, and creamy.
Rachel started with the To-Taro, Taro Ice Cream, Coconut Flakes, Cornflakes, Mochi and Condensed Milk. It just looked like so much fun. Seriously like a teenage dream; light purple, topped with colored gummy balls and a drizzled in sweetened condensed milk. So lively! And it was delicious, we can see why it’s their best seller.
The Strawberry Cheesecake next- oh my goodness. Sweet cream ice cream, NY Cheesecake (made daily), Fresh Strawberries, and Strawberry Sauce… Perfection and instantly Rachel’s favorite. “It’s rich without being heavy and the fresh strawberries are (put your fingers to your lips and make a kiss sound).”
Next we followed up with the Biscoff Butter Cookie- Sweet cream ice cream, Biscoff Cookies & Spread, Caramel Sauce.. Just the best ice cream concoction Sadie has ever tasted. Really.
We ended with the Vietnamese Iced Coffee – Café Du Monde Coffee (brewed fresh daily), Lychee, Coconut Jelly, Cookie Straws, and Sweetened Condensed milk. Befitting because who doesn’t like to end a dessert with a little coffee? At least we at Sadie‘s Nest do. It had great strong coffee flavor, but the coolest part was the coconut jelly ice cubes. Honestly they look like ice cube sitting on top of drink! So creative!
The Ice Cream is So Good!
Do try it. It’s delicious.
Try five or six at a time -because they’re that enjoyable.
Located in Midtown, on the un-presumptuous corner of a Woodward Ave parking garage across from the DMC, lies one of Detroit’s most beloved gems, The Great Lakes Coffee Roasting Company.
Undoubtedly, the signage is catchy hung from the end of a brick building- that could be otherwise be anything. However, when you walk through the door, unveiled is the charming world of a welcoming café full of interesting people doing various sorts of business and socializing; as the perfect gathering place should be. Accordingly, pastries and tasty treats are on view, beckoning the patrons to indulge; as in every bistro I ever want to frequent.
The coffee house boasts beautiful rich dark wooded counters and shelving that bears resemblance of an idyllic Irish pub; where familiar and new faces are in harmony under the common love of football (soccer). Except here, the common thread seems to be the beat of Detroit’s drum; city dwellers who have been steadily keeping the pace through the very difficult times mixed with the raw vibe of new interest for what is on the horizon.
Lights were strung whimsically behind the bar giving off the cheerful luminescence of a holiday. They lended a glow of hospitality for these nomads looking for a cup of something warm while taking refuge from the bitter weather outdoors. Consequently, the whole shop felt like a place of belonging. (And I’m pretty sure I heard the Cheers theme song playing in the background.)
Additionally, we loved the accommodating staff, who recommended the individual lavender and five spice lattes; both of which were amazing in presentation and taste.
Our breakfast tacos were flavorful, and the grilled cheese with sautéed veggies was, in a word, perfect. (We’re always in our element with good food and drink.) Interesting art was displayed along ageless brick walls, and a designated stage area in the back corner lent curiosity about the performances that must be held.
The Great Lakes Coffee Roasting Company seems worlds away from the busy street outside the door. The café exudes a natural place to meet with a friend or colleague for a cup of coffee; for a student or novelist to plot away for an afternoon; for a curator to discuss plans for an upcoming exhibit; for Sadie’s Nest to spend a delightful morning.
At The Nest, we try not to play favorites. There are restaurants and cafés in Detroit right now that are essential to the growth and success of their environment. That’s a position we can stand behind. There are authentic flavors from around the world that are gastronomical delights and a lot of fun to try. That’s awesome- bring it! Then there are places we just love, as in that was an ideal experience- in atmosphere, service, food… This was our happening at The Great Lakes Coffee Roasting Company in Midtown, Detroit.
Thank you Great Lakes Coffee Roasting Company for being you!
Which iconic confectionary is Fat Tuesday’s tastiest treat?
According to Cooks Illustrated, “there are three key Mardi Gras foods: Fried chicken, king cake, and more king cake.” We have to admit that we haven’t eaten the traditional cinnamon pastry in New Orleans, but we have it on good authority (actually from the Cook’s Illustrated Mail-Order King Cake Test), that Joe Gambino’s Bakery is the winner to try at home. That was validation enough for Sadie’s Nest, so we ordered one straight from the epicenter of Mardi Gras to sample for ourselves. (For the history of King Cake click here.)
In Detroit, we have one way of celebrating Fat Tuesday, with paczki (pronounced pownch-kee or poonch-kee depending on who you ask). At first glance you might compare it to a jelly filled donut. (You’re probably too healthy to know the difference.) But we paczki eaters know what’s up (our cholesterol). According to experts, these Polish pastries are not as crumbly as a typical donut, and don’t dry out as quickly. The New Palace Bakery in Hamtramck arguably bakes the best. (For more information on Pazcki click here.)
The Pros… (We can’t find any cons)
Something about “Fat Tuesday” goes so nicely with convenience. At first thought, it might seem accommodating to have a paczki palace just a short car ride away. And that’s true. But, it doesn’t get any more convenient than someone delivering cake right to my front door…
The King Cake is fun to look at with its oval (crown) shape dusted with all of that sparkly gold, green, and purple sugar. It embodied Mardi Gras! The texture is unique, simultaneously light and dense, a real pastry/cake hybrid. Slicing pieces to pass out felt like a party. The cinnamon was pleasantly fragrant, but not overpowering, and the cake was great with a cup of coffee.
Paczki are huge, almost softball-sized rounds. (This ain’t Thin Thursday). They come filled in a variety of flavors; raspberry, apple, cherry, chocolate, cream, caramel cream, cookies ‘n cream, and so on… The flavor party is going strong on the inside. Everyone gets their own and can pick their favorite filling while still partaking in that soft, dense, certain exterior.
Truth be told, we’d be happy with either pastry on any given day… but this was a challenge needing a champion. So which sweet treat wins the Heavy Weight title for Fat Tuesday indulgence?
The Winner?
We tried to remain unbiased here in the nest, but the tastiest winner was clear. Those goodness-filled pastry rounds are just so delicious… In New Orleans, cake might be king, but in the upper midwest paczki is queen; and the queen reigns supreme!
Originally from Los Angeles, Urban Ramen opened its second location in Midtown Detroit last June; and we’re so happy they’re here! According to Detroit Eater, “Owner Kohei Robert, was born in the U.S. but raised in Japan… and worked with executive chef Yohei Uchida to develop the menu for the original location which features noodles served with chicken, pork, and vegan maitake mushroom and shoyu broth.” The noodle shop has generated quite a hype with foodies by offering an exciting and authentic Japanese menu. And come on, say…”Urban Ramen” -it just sounds cool.
We’d be the first to admit that we’re probably jaded when it comes to the Japanese noodles known as ramen. We grew up on Maruchan Ramen, those wavy noodle bricks accompanied by little silver seasoning packets. No broth necessary, just boil the noodles until soft; strain and add the MSG laden spice pouch. So freaking good! They were the perfect after school snack, and the means for survival for many college students. We could probably eat it every day, (and for a long time actually did).
However, this is a new era in cuisine quality, and an authentic variety of food places is turning up at every corner of the Motor City. Walking down Woodward, you instantly take notice of the chef through the window, working fast in the steamy kitchen with lots of well organized produce and ingredients. You can also see an impressive industrial-sized ramen noodle maker (they make their noodles in house, daily). The restaurant emanates fresh and a standard of quality, before you even step in. Once past the threshold, we were greeted by a warm and knowledgeable server and seated after we placed our order (which included almost the whole menu- ‘cause we came to eat).
Mini Salad & Garlic Edamame
We started with the mini salad, which was a cabbage slaw tossed in ginger dressing and topped with fresh corn. We sampled the garlic edamame, totally radiating garlicky goodness; but too fibrous to eat whole (in spite of Sadie’s best efforts). So we’ve included a link for you on “how to eat soybeans“. You’re welcome. We followed up their most popular (Detroit exclusive) Chicken Paitan Ramen (pictured below). The bowls are loaded with interesting bits, and the presentation is like something you drool over on your foodie Instagram pics. (Somehow, our photos don’t do it justice.) Now time to slurrrpppp. Seriously, that’s how it’s done, and even considered complementary in Japanese culture… along with no conversation so that you’re sure to savor every bite. We tried to slurp… (but we were too busy talking about it all. We’ll get there.)
Chicken Paitan Ramen
The creamy broth had a strong umami taste. The chicken was wonderfully tender with crispier edges… and hello ramen, I don’t think we’ve met! The thin noodles were so good and fresh, like an elegant distant cousin of the aforementioned bricks (which shall forever carry a special place in our hearts). But the biggest surprise was the soy marinated egg- perfectly soft boiled and soy infused, so delicious.
Japanese soda
We cleared our palate with a drink of Ramune, a Japanese soda that the server compared to Sprite. **Read the instructions on bottle of how to open.** In complete transparency: it was fun to try something new, but we’ll stick to Sprite.
Next we had Shoyu Vegan Ramen (featured post image), and please don’t let “vegan” detract from this weightiness of this dish. It’s a meal. The ramen was a bit thicker and had a good chew. There were generous amounts of white onion and Maitake mushrooms, with garnishments like radish sprouts and fried burdock (shout out to fried burdock, you’re awesome). However, the star of the show (drumroll please), is bamboo! Yeah, baby! We should call it BAMBOOM because it is an explosion of delicious! Wider and thicker cuts than the kind in our stir fry, it was bursting with teriyaki-like flavor… and we’d go back just for that!
Plain noodles
Picky eaters have options too, so don’t think you shouldn’t tag along! If you have kids like Sadie’s, know that plain noodles are available. (Rachel’s kids have more grown up tastes than most adults.) And feel free to mention “no scallions,” then you won’t have to pick them off one-by-one. 😉
Matcha Mochi Ice
For dessert we had Matcha Mochi Ice. Matcha Mochi!!! This green tea ice cream with roasted soybean flour and brown sugar syrup was creamy and cool, light and sweet, and as Sadie put it, “money in my mouth.” Also notedly, it was her son’s favorite.
Urban Ramen has a good thing going. It’s fresh, modern, authentic…, and if you’re ever in Midtown, you should stop by and see what it’s all about! (And be sure to order an extra side of Bamboom Bamboo, because you’re going to love it.) 😉
It was cold and dreary the day we decided to make the trek to West Village Detroit and put Sister Pie to the test. (Because what else is better on a cold dreary day than freshly baked pastry?) When we saw the “pie” sign pointing toward the iconic pink neon “Sister Pie” illuminated over the door, it was a little like coming home- with the porch light on waiting for your arrival.
Sadie had been wanting to go for months; ever since she saw the local dancer-turned pie maker’s cookbook in her hometown kitchenware store. Within days of the seeing the book on the shelf, she had convinced herself she should order a copy from Amazon. (It wasn’t hard to do… Michigan born cookbook author + local pie shop + baked goods recipes = no brainer.) The unusual flavor combinations, such as Concord Grape and Goat Cheese Pie; Rhubarb Blondies; Fennel Seed Snickerdoodles; etc; were intriguing.
I love that it smelled like the spices of India when we walked through the front door. Popular tunes were flowing from the radio, and the bakers were all doing their best Mariah Carey. (Note to reader: be sure to get there early before many items are sold out!) And to make you feel even more at home, if you are staying for coffee, you get to pick your own mug from an eclectic collection stored in a “help yourself” cabinet along the wall.
The flavor combinations are interesting for sure, but most alluring is author and owner, Lisa Ludwinski’s mission: “to serve food, our neighborhood, and each other.” Her business approach follows an ethical strategy that is hard to place a value on, and continues to be evaluated and evolved. It is a commitment in supporting employees (i.e. teaching valuable skills, paying them higher than average wages); supporting our environment (sourcing in-season produce from local farms, recycling, etc.); and the economy (they are transparent with their employees about financial reports and sales goals). Bonus: they donate their coffee grounds and egg shells to the local community garden! I’ll eat to that.
Furthermore, they have a great “Pie it Forward” program, where anyone can purchase a slice of pie that someone else can collect at any time for any reason. It keeps a sense of community in focus.
Sister Pie is truly unique, in recipe and vibe, but still has the ageless charm of an established neighborhood bakery. And don’t think just because “pie” is in the name that your options are limited. Rachel’s favorite item was the Salted Rosemary Shortbread. Sadie’s son begged for a second Buckwheat Chocolate Chip Cookie! (Which he received because “buckwheat” sounds healthy.)
Like many Detroit businesses, Sister Pie offers other Michigan made products. One of our favorite take-aways from our visit was this Detroit made Hibiscus Rosemary Mint Tea from Ellis Island Teas that we didn’t even know existed! Um, delicious!
Of course, being who we are it didn’t seem right to end our journey without cooking something from the Sister Pie Cookbook. We chose “Sweet Potato Coconut Pie” from the Fall and Winter section. (Granted our sweet potatoes were of the white variety, so colors do vary… but so yummy!)
Thank you Sister Pie for bringing the light and warmth on a dismal day!
For more information check out their website at www.sisterpie.com or better yet, visit them in person!
