I am in love with Willis (Street)

I realized today that I have not written about my FAVORITE lunch spot.  On the corner of Willis Street and Cass Avenue in Detroit's Midtown lies two gems - Goodwell's Natural Food Market and Avalon International Breads.  

It is really a fight inside my brain as to which one I will get my lunch from almost every day.  If I go to Avalon, odds are I will get the Mediterranean Chick Pea Salad, a Cosmic Cranberry Kombucha and a Vegan Granola Bar.  If I go to Goodwell's, odds are I will get a Famous Vegan Pocket Sandwich with Avocado a Cosmic Cranberry Kombucha and either dried mango or kale chips.  This is pretty standard unless I grab something off of the day old shelf at Avalon (I scored and hit the jackpot one day and there were four Vegan Granola Bars in a bag for $2…a total bonus) like date bars or scones.  Or, I change it up and get a soup from Goodwell's, which can happen on any given day depending on the choices.  Or I go crazy and go to both!

Photo credit AvalonBreads.net

The reason I love these two places is because of their food, ingredients, taste and local nature.  Avalon makes everything right there.  Goodwell's makes everything right there.  Each uses quality ingredients and since that is important to me, it works out well.  PLUS, the staff at each establishment is awesome.  Case in point…I was having a particularly ruff day at work when I arrived at Avalon for my lunch, late and tired.  I got my usual and noticed that the woman behind the counter gave me a little smile.  I smiled back not thinking anything of it.  When I got into my car, I decided to eat my granola bar while in the car because it was that kind of day.  When I opened the bag, there were two granola bars inside.  I was so happy!  It turned my day around completely and I have the woman at Avalon to thank for that!

Avalon is a bakery and makes wonderful breads and desserts, but they also carry coffee, salads, soups and sandwiches as well as some local products.  Their breads are sold all over Southeast Michigan.

Goodwell's National Food Market carries a variety of organic and natural grocery items as well as organic produce as well as soups, sandwiches, salads and other grab and go items.

Two musts!

Vegan Granola Bar from Avalon

Famous Vegan Pocket Sandwich from Goodwell's.

Eat It!

Barbeque, Baklava and a Bike

I realize it is the middle of January, but I was day dreaming of Spring the other day (yes, already) and all of this came to mind....
There is no doubt in my mind, I seriously love barbeque.  And, I am sure the thing I love about it the most is eating smoked fat.  Sure the meat part is good too, but I really like the fatty ends of just about everything, so chicken does not fit into my world of barbeque at all...unless I am eating the skin (Slow's has some smoked wings that are very good) then forget the chicken.

That being said, I have been to my fair share of Detroit barbeque establishments and I have one problem.  I like different things at each one.  If I were to build my perfect meal, I would have to go to several restaurants to do so.  And, maybe one day I will.  So, here is my ideal barbeque meal, complete with beverages and dessert.

My vision is this...me on a bike (basket on front) in the spring, traveling around the city, filling my basket with all of my barbeque meal components.  Once they are collected, I will take my goodies to the Detroit Riverfront, on the patch of grass next to Milliken State Park where there is a large hill.  I will sit atop the hill on a blanket and devour my meal while watching the freighters go by. Ahhhh....dreams.

The meal:

Beverage:  Since there are seasonal beers on tap everywhere, I will just put my favorite here. LaGunitas IPA.  It is very hop-py but very delicious! (It has been on tap at Green Dot Stables in the recent past)

Appetizer: Slow's BBQ Wings and Burnt Ends (Brisket) from RUB BBQ Pub.

Main Course:  (I am making my own combo meal here) Texas Style Beef Brisket from Slow's BBQ and a half rack of St. Louis Style Spare Ribs from Red Smoke Barbeque.

Dessert:  Baklava from Astoria Bakery-Greektown

Enjoy!!

Baklava from Astoria Bakery

St. Louis Spare Ribs from Red Smoke