Sweet Lorraine's Cafe & Bar

If you're looking for a new place to try with a unique atmosphere and creative entrees, check out Sweet Lorraine's Cafe & Bar! It had been a few years since my last visit here, but it was as great as I remember. Tonight I ordered a delicious maple‐cured salmon broiled and served with a Michigan dried cherry salsa & rice pilaf. The Michigan dried cherry salsa wasn't as good as I would have hoped, but the salmon was outstanding. Cooked to perfection. As you can see from the picture below, my plate had a lot of character. The carrots were so sweet and the rice pilaf was a great complement to the salmon.

I also had the opportunity to try their famous Lobster Mac. It was no ordinary Mac n Cheese dish; it was crafted with bacon, baby lobster tails, swiss, cheddar, diced tomatoes, and toasted focaccia breadcrumbs. If you're a Mac n Cheese lover, this is definitely a place to put on the list. If lobster isn't your thing, they also have a Truffle & Mushroom Mac and Bacon & Cheddar Mac with applewood‐smoked bacon.

Sweet Lorraine's has a couple locations in the Metro Detroit area. I have only ever been to the Berkley (technically Southfield) location. But they also have a spot in Livonia as well. This restaurant has a lot of great reviews out there. Check is out! http://www.sweetlorraines.com/

The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my views and are not compensated.

Toast Birmingham

Toast. One of my absolute favorite places to go for breakfast. This may be a well-known spot, but it is so worth talking about! It had been a little while since I had been to Toast for breakfast, so this past weekend was a treat. One of my favorite dishes is their Granola Mountain French Toast. It's so good that I want to get it every time. French toast with yogurt, berries, honey and granola... who could ask for more?

On the menu this past weekend they had a Lemon Raspberry French Toast. This definitely caught my eye, so I decided to give it a try. I'll let the picture speak for itself:

Challah french toast with raspberry coulis and lemon glaze. It was even better than it looks in the picture. If you ever come across this special, highly recommend you give it a try. Toast has an outstanding menu for all meals of the day. And if food isn't enough, go for the atmosphere and waitstaff. Check out their website for a full menu. Like them on Facebook for more info on their specials! 

The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my views and are not compensated.

Hayden’s Grill: Upscale Food @ An Affordable Price

Next time you find yourself in Canton looking for something to eat, check out Hayden’s Grill on Ford Road. It’s a contemporary restaurant with a great menu and awesome prices. It seems to be a busy spot on the weekends, but well worth the wait. You may even get as lucky as I did and find a table in the bar area the moment you walk in.

The cocktail menu is filled with martinis… so many to choose from! And if you’re indecisive (like me) you can order a flight of three different martinis! Can’t say I’ve ever had a martini flight before; it was delightful. Highly recommend saving a chocolate one for dessert!

The entree menu was impressive. They have steak, fish, burgers, salads… and the list goes on. I had the Southwest Tilapia, which was topped with black bean and corn salsa, cilantro and lime. If you ask me, $12.99 was a great deal – especially considering it came with two sides.

I highly recommend you give this place a try. The food was excellent, staff was awesome, and it had a great atmosphere. Check out more on their website: http://bit.ly/1c2x2Jh

The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my views and are not compensated. 

#DetroitWeek

Detroit Week: February 17-23, 2014

Entrepreneurship, innovation, networking... this is the week to get involved in Detroit! Detroit Week consists of a series of events that celebrates entrepreneurship and innovation in Detroit. According to their website, they anticipate over 500 people to attend the events throughout the week. There are a number of free events throughout the next week:

Open City Detroit: Monday, February 17th
Location: Cliff Bells

Tacos: Turntables: Tequila: Tuesday, February 18th
Location: Great Lakes Coffee

Detroit's Largest Selfie: Wednesday, February 19th
Location: DIA

Model D Drinks: Thursday, February 20th
Location: Model D House

Spotlight Detroit: Friday, February 21st
Location: Wayne State University

Detroit Week Drinks & Mix-up: Friday, February 21st
Location: Great Lakes Coffee

To see the full list of events, check out the Detroit Week website: http://www.detroitweek.com/

Birmingham Restaurant Week: Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse

Let's be honest, restaurants in Birmingham are expensive. So when restaurant week comes around, I always take advantage of the deals! I tried a new spot this past week - Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse. For restaurant week they offered a three course meal for $30. I had the pleasure of having a wedge salad, bourbon salmon with a sweet potato hash, and a flourless chocolate torte for dessert.

The wedge salad was my absolute favorite part of the meal! Between the blue cheese dressing, bacon, and candied pecans... it was like a dessert before the meal even started! The salmon was a little undercooked for my liking - but it came with a sweet potato hash that was extremely tasty.

The service was phenomenal. I even received a phone call the next day to follow up from our reservation. It may be expensive, but definitely worth it. ESPECIALLY ON RESTAURANT WEEK!

Keep an eye on the Birmingham Restaurant Week website to find out when the next week will be hosted! http://www.birminghamrestaurantweek.org/

Toasted Oak

Wine... Charcuterie... Cheese... Baked Goods... Toasted Oak Grill & Market has something for everyone. This unique restaurant has a creative menu that will have you going back for more.

If you're looking for a quick lunch in the middle of the week, or a casual dining spot in the evening, Toasted Oak's Market has an inviting and simple atmosphere. They feature a variety of lunch options, charcuterie, cheese and an impressive wine selection. 

If you're looking for a warm environment equipped with fire places, friendly service and outstanding entrees, I would highly recommend the Grill section of this restaurant. They promote local food and wine on their menu and truly have something for everyone: charcuterie, pizza, pasta, burgers, fresh fish, etc. 

Being a wine lover, my favorite part of Toasted Oak is the wine. Not only do they have an excellent selection of local favorites on the menu, but they have a retail wine shop on the way out! Toasted Oak has a large inventory of wine that can either be taken home or enjoyed at your table - all at retail prices (for a small corkage fee). They also offer a number of wine tasting events throughout the year. Take a look at their upcoming events: http://toastedoak.com/novi-restaurant-events/

The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my views and are not compensated. 

Crispelli's: Affordable Gourmet, Every Single Day

Back in 2012, Crispelli's opened their doors to bring affordable gourmet to Metro Detroit. This restaurant is nothing like you've ever experienced. From pizza to pasta, to panini to salad, to the most amazing desserts- they have it all. A friend recommended that I try this place out a few months ago, and I don't even want to admit how many times I've been back. The restaurant's centerpiece is a stone fired oven that can knock out the most amazing thin crust pizza in under five minutes. Everything they have is fresh, made with quality ingredients. Trust me, you'll be able to tell!

Crispelli's has not only mastered their gourmet dishes, but the experience as well. When you walk in the door you're greeted by an employee who will reserve a table for you (if you're dining in), while you order at your desired food station. At one station they have pizza made to order, at another you can order sandwiches, paninis and salads... and the list continues. But don't forget what could be the best part- the bakery section. I have quite the sweet tooth, so I may be a bit biased, but the desserts are a must try!

Oh! Did I mention they have a great selection of beer and wine as well?

Take a look at their website to learn more!

Modern Mexican: MEX

Looking for a modern Mexican restaurant? MEX Mexican Bistro & Tequila Bar!

A friend suggested we try out this local gem this past weekend. The restaurant atmosphere was so unique and the food was outstanding. The wait for a table was a little long, but it was well worth it.

Shrimp Tacos with chipotle tomato sauce, toasted garlic, cilantro and pickled onion. Margaritas... Need I say more?  Highly recommend you give it a try!

Welcome!

Good Evening, Friends!

Welcome to my new blog: Eat, Drink, Explore - Detroit! This semester I'm enrolled in a Business Social Media Strategy class. My main project for the semester is to start blogging!

Eat, Drink, Explore - Detroit will be a great way for me to share some of my favorite places in Metro Detroit. I look forward to sharing my journey with you on finding new restaurants, local breweries, historic landmarks, and many other places of interest in the Detroit area.

Keep in contact via Facebook as well!