Take me to your leader...Javabot

This past week a co-worker and I visited The Roasting Plant, a new coffee establishment in the Campus Martius area in Downtown Detroit. It is truly unlike any other coffee establishment I have been to.

First let me say, that we got a great parking spot right outside, which I am sure added to our experience. Upon getting out of the car we were smacked in the face with the smell of roasting coffee. And, it smelled goooood. I really could have gotten back in the car right then, as I was pretty satisfied with the smell alone, but that wouldn't keep me awake in the afternoon. So we went in.

The glass tubes from the Javabot line the ceiling and drop into the middle of the shop. The Javabot as described on The Roasting Plant's website is, "A patented Roasting Plant invention, Javabot first holds 'green' beans in a series of clear storage columns. When it’s time for roasting, the beans are automatically measured out by weight and then “whooshed” into the roaster via bursts of air through clear pneumatic tubes." And then..."Once roasted, the beans are blown back into the columns where they rest for no longer than 48 hours, allowing their flavors to mature without decaying. Then they’re dispensed in first-in-first-out order into our brewer or retail bags at the peak of their freshness." Wow.

There are only two other Javabots in the country located at The Roasting Plant's two other locations, both in New York. New York and Detroit. Nice.

So, you walk up, you order your size or speciality drink, you specify to bean and if you want it supercharged (more beans used to make it stronger). I had a medium supercharge Ethiopian Harrar. Intense and smoky. I drink it black, it was good.

I really want to go back. Not only for the Javabot, which is quite fun to watch, and the whooshing beans that fly across the ceiling, but the great cup of coffee that was delivered to me all hot and yummy.

A friend of mine has been there everyday this week and I have a feeling he will be back there tomorrow...maybe the Javabot does more than make a good cup of coffee to get you coming back....

The Roasting Plant is located at:
Woodward Avenue
660 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 782- 4291



Photo Credit--Julie Phenis, Co-Creator, HeyGirlDetroit

Que Seva Seva...

OK, I know the real words, but I had to do it.

Instead of painting my whole night for you.  I am going to get right down to it. 

Seva's General Tso's Cauliflower is like crack.  Once you start you can't stop and you want to eat it every day. 

So good.  So good.  So good.

General Tso's Cauliflower-Photo Credit: detnew.com

I was at Seva for a party where the the food was chosen for me, which is good because I may not have chosen the same thing and then missed out.  The other stand out for me was Rennie's Peanut-Kale Salad (kale, carrots, butternut squash, red peppers in a peanut-cider marinade).  I Love Kale, so this is a natural win for me. 

Seva Detroit  *  66 E. Forest Ave.  * Detroit, MI 48201  *  (313) 974-6661

The other thing that I realized is this…I HAVE TO GO BACK THERE AND EAT MORE.  I looked at the menu while I was there and there are so many things that I want to try…Mushroom Sliders, Black Bean and Sweet Potato Quesadilla, Yam Fries, and their Spinach Salad…I need to try them all.

In addition to their regular menu items, they have weekly lunch, dinner, drink and appetizer specials that also sound fantastic, like Red Lentil Coconut Curry Soup, which contains three of my favorite things all in one.

Now, you should know that Seva is a sister restaurant to the original Seva in Ann Arbor.  Each establishment specializing in Vegetarian Cuisine and has a full bar. 

I am upset with myself for not eating there sooner. 

At any rate, I am going there for lunch this week and I can't wait!  OH!  And, for those of you who like Kombucha, they serve Unity Vibration's (located in Ypsilanti, Michigan) Kombucha! Bingo!

Research Tonight

Consume Detroit will be out on the town tonight to consume and I can not wait to share my findings with you. I will be hitting a few new spots and I know I will have good things to share. So make sure to check back tomorrow.

Where am I going? It's a secret.

In the meantime, I leave you with this simple breakfast yogurt treat...
1 cup non-fat Greek yogurt
A pinch of Stevia
Two dashes of cinnamon
2 drops of pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup raw slivered almonds

Stir it up....YUM!!!!

I would post a pic but I ate it already! So here is a picture of a homemade Dutch Baby instead...just because it's pretty

Now off I go for a long run to make room to c o n s u m e.