Throwback Thursday: Motor City Pizza Fest

      I'm not sure who tattled but someone told Facebook I was a THOT for toppings because for a good three weeks this past summer, my timeline was bombarded with special advertisements on an upcoming Motor City Pizza Fest. I needn't scroll not one more inch, ANY festival celebrating pizza is the festival for me! For the price of entry you got two tickets which was two slices of pizza while sampling and voting for best pizza.

      Held at Ferndale's Farmer's Market, at first glance this "festival" looked like  a hillbilly family reunion that Honey Boo Boo and crew were sure to walk into at any moment. They had sone well known hitters like "Jet's" "Papa Romano's" and "Papa John's but then Domino's *catches vomit*. { Dominoe's, you need more people. I could get better pizza from Barbie's kitchen.}

      

      There were booths with just about any pizza joint you'd heard of plus a few eccentric newbies like a hippy themed parlor and Coney pizzas. I didn't get any shots because I was too busy taking them for Detroit Style Pizza Co.   The crowd hovering around the back booth piqued my interest but I played the game like a true lady. I walked straight up and grabbed a handful of what I wanted...

Classic Margerita
(cheesy, gooey to perfection!)

Detroit Margarita w/ fresh basil, onion, homemade sauce a mozzarella on garlic and herb buttered crust

   The styrofoam prison trays weren't the most fashionable (or user friendly) option for plating here but none of that matters once you take a bite. I could literally taste the care and attention to each layer.

 Beneath the house made sauce, fresh ingredients and mozzarella lie a bed of garlic herb butter atop the crust. Umm, YUM?!  I circled the event trying to find some pizza, ANY pizza to be worthy of my other ticket but there was none other. After four rounds, I went back home-- I mean, to Detroit Style. They had brought a previous PF award winner out this time

Chicken Caesar salad pizza

But I wasn't messing with it. There are some things one shouldn't convert to pizza and one of those things is Chicken Caesar salad. C'mon bruh...

Eating Good: Red Coat Tavern (Royal Oak)

Aside from the "red light special" ambience, it was quite easy to grow fond of this saloon type joint on a Saturday afternoon. Especially when a bearded waiter sets this down in front of you:

                              Calimari Americaine w/caramelized garlic, banana peppers, cherry peppers and lemon aioli




      The banana peppers were a nice liaison between the lemon and the spicy of the peppers, blending the flavors together. My particular batch was a bit heavy on the oil but the dish was delicious, nonetheless. Beer and burgers seem to be their strong point while there are also English based fare (but who wants Yorkshire pudding?) We got:

Brasserie Burger

Fish and Chips

Blackened salmon with garlic mash and veggies

The Brasserie has been dubbed "Best Gourmet Burger in MI" and I could sure taste why. Every ingredient boasted in its own perfection to create one superior flavor mash up that left my taste buds twitching..Lawd have mercy!

All up in The Brasserie
Brioche bun, bacon, Swiss Gruyere, caramelized onions, watercress, tomato, Dijon mustard

       Yummmy! :o)

TheWeekend Recap

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Under much duress (octogenarians are evil!), I got to visit the Shrimp Napoli at Bravo's Italian Cucina.

Shrimp Napoli with Salata Roma (kale, iceberg, chickpeas, cherry tomatoes and a lemon vinaigrette )  

I have loved this appetizer ever since the first time I tried it and I pray to GOD it never goes away! It is crispy fried shrimp with seared tomatoes and scallions over a tomato and beurre blanc based sauce. Thanks to pointers from the chef, I will be trying at home! 

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I also got to get a lil cute and support BevLoveConnection, it was a great time! This was the Patootie Pre-Party where the house cocktail Peach² had me like: 

At the Old Miami, we danced the night away :D ... If you missed it, you missed OUT! 

1905 Bistro (DC)

       So.... while chatting with some film cohorts on set, I got wind that 1905, right off the famous U Street, had the "best burger in town". Now anyone who KNOWS me knoooooows that I had to look into this, I. LOVE. BURGERS. I mean, how can one not? They combine all the different food groups in one delicious (and might I add, portable) treat. So I had to go. One Friday evening, after a failed attempt at entering some Gentleman Jack event with Howard Alum extraordinaire, my 537 roomies Aminata, Jamie and I scooted on over to see what the rave was about. After finding super close parking and dodging running rats like Kenyans in an obstacle course, we settled down at the quaint spot at about 9:45pm. When you walk up to the entrance, the term "hole in the wall" couldn't be more fitting, setting them up to underpromise and overdeliver.



Interior at 1905, day

   We almost missed the little black awning over a flight of ascending stairs for the bright lights and tomfoolery happening at the venues next door. No trepidation from me, I usually find the best foods in spots like this so....I climbed those stairs! Like a fairytale, when we reached the top it was as if we were in another land. Very warmly lit (and I'm a sucker for lighting), linen tablecloths and gold/brass decor...I was in heaven. When you first walk in, the bar is situated to the far right and you are standing in the dining room which expands to the left. Another warm, romantic date spot for the lovers :o) The music was chill, hip hop (The Roots, Talib, Common) loud enough to enjoy but low enough to still enjoy your companion--- perfect. I knew I wanted to order the 1905 burger but we also ordered cottage fries, tuna tartare, beers and I ventured to order some drink made with several different absenthes ( at those prices, I wanted to order a drink that was a one hitter-quitter!).

Aminata and Jamie

1905 Burger Au Jus

       The appetizers were perfection-- the cottage fries were actually those crispy thin "fries" very much like homemade potato chips. The tartare was tasty with lemon zest and olive oil and also paired with the fries so the different taste and textures indeed explode on your tongue (Mouthgasm! :o) The burger was served juicy and full on a brioche buns with Brie cheese(can you say yummm?), charred with a pickled salad mix. NO mayo, ketchup, mustard or nothing and it was spectacular! The server also informed us that the burger could be served au jus (with its own juice), more American-ly familiarized with the French dip sandwich. While the pic of the original version is serving me "Hillbilly Eats for 500, Alex!"-realness, 1905 was gracious enough to place the warm broth in a holder on my plate so I could dip to taste, as I pleased. Needless to say, it was magically delicious. I'm willing to bet money Lucky the Leprechaun himself was back there sweating over a grill with a block of Brie, looking too grown to be still be dressed as a fucking leprechaun...

        

      Nostalgia aside, if you're looking for an intimate chill spot (friends OR the new boo! ;o) near U Street, check it out.