Shatila Bakery in Dearborn, MI

Shatila Bakery in Dearborn, MI serves “Sweets from the Middle East From the Heart of the Midwest.” Counter after counter of treats are available, including seemingly endless types of baklava, desserts with nuts (mamoul), and more, including French pastries. They also have savory pies, such as a chicken shawarma wrap.

You can order online, pick up at the counter or just plop yourself down with a coffee and enjoy them at one of their many café tables.

It can be overwhelming to see so many honey-sweetened treats that might be unfamiliar to you. The staff is incredibly helpful and there’s always the old fashioned pointing method. As in, I’ll have them all!

We love this place so much that it is included in the rounds of the Detroit area when guests come to town. It isn’t to be missed. If you go after dark, you can buy a tray to bring with you to the nearby Ford Wyoming Drive-In.

Detroit Institute for the Arts: The Art of Dining

I pull my chair up to a video-projected dinner of formal eighteenth century French dining on the top floor of the Detroit Institute for the Arts. Plates appear with written descriptions and hands with lacy sleeves show me how to handle the utensils and delicate foods. Middle-schoolers crowd into the other chairs and around the table. I can’t help but wonder along with them at the intricate dishes and formality of the meal.

The museum brought otherwise boring cases of polished silver serving plates to life. The exhibit of the dishes used surrounded us, a surprising crowd on a sunny, Friday afternoon in Detroit.

The DIA, as the Detroit Institute for the Arts is called, was recently renovated and houses an enormous collection of varied works. From Diego Rivera murals to child-friendly and thought-provoking explanations, there is really something for all ages. They creatively present material to make distant customs accessible.

Online, you can watch part of the video or visit their website.

Slows Bar.B.Q in Detroit

Slows, a fairly new, hipster BBQ place, was hopping last Friday at 5 pm. Without a dinner reservation, we only waited half an hour with local beers from the tap, including Shorts Brewing Company.

And then we gorged ourselves. Each dish came with two sides and the portions of not-so-light food were generous. My black eyed peas and my husband’s macaroni and cheese were authentically southern, gooey and perfectly salted. Except for the ribs, which were a bit dry, the entrees were simply delicious. The table was outfitted with a selection of BBQ sauces, which you can see above.

The restaurant, with a door fashioned to blend into the wall like an old speakeasy, is very close to the old Detroit train station, the Michigan Central Station.

Supino Pizzeria by Detroit's Eastern Market

I declare that Supino Pizzeria has the best pizza in Michigan. Ok, so I haven’t been to the UP or tried too many pizzerias outside of the Ann Arbor area, but this pizzeria could contend with the best ones in the New York City area.

When my husband and I were recently at the Eastern Market, we shared a large smoky pizza at Supino's. With speck, garlic, mozzarella, smoked gouda and ricotta, this white pizza on a thin crust was fresh and delicious. We added some crushed red pepper were able to finish the entire pizza.

The pizzeria is informal. Diners order at the counter and the pizzas are brought to the small tables. Expect to wait about twenty minutes for your pizza since they make them to order.

And order you will. Again and again.

Eastern Farmer's Market, Detroit

The Eastern Farmer’s Market in Detroit is awe-inspiring. Here’s what they say about it on their website:

Detroit Eastern Market is the largest historic public market district in the United States. Every Saturday, Michigan's largest and most colorful market is host to more than 150 farmers and vendors from Michigan, Ohio, and Canada offering a cornucopia of fruits, vegetables, breads, baked goods, jellies, jams, honey, apple cider, cheeses, spices, herbs, plants and flowers.

Since 1891, Detroit's Eastern Market has been home to an amazing community of farmers, merchants, restaurants, unique shops, food lovers and residents. On any given Saturday, more than 26,000 Detroiters, suburbanites and tourists shop elbow to elbow, sharing experiences from generation to generation.


My husband and I visited for the second time last weekend. The market reaches for blocks, although it wasn’t as full as it had been when we went during warmer months. We found some lovely asparagus, pears, shitake mushrooms and wood for our fireplace.

I can hear the question you’re about to ask. Pears in February? No, not everything is 100% local. I don’t remember being as surprised by items like Florida oranges the first time we went to the market. That said, I’m not sure how much local produce there could be in the middle of the winter.

There are also some amazing stores around the market. We started at the Gratiot Meat Market (perhaps officially across the street from the market) and left with reasonably priced steaks, liver and New York style pork sausages. Then we were taken by two nut stores, Rocky Peanut and the Germack Pistachio Company. We bought fried peanuts from Rocky Peanut, something I’d never heard of before. You can eat the shell and all. Covered in delicious salt, these were a unique treat.

What's your favorite stand at the market or store nearby?