Zingerman’s Roadhouse – Ann Arbor, MI

John March 17, 2009

My darling of a girlfriend, Stephanie, took me to Zingerman’s Roadhouse in Ann Arbor on Sunday for my birthday and it was damn delicious. I have been meaning to visit this place since it opened because of the huge variety of food it offers. The menu features “old-time American classics” but gives you a lot more than just simple comfort food. You are given the option of creating your own cheese plate, a large oyster menu, a great domestic beer list, and reading materials giving you detailed information of pretty much everything on the menu. The wait staff is readily available to answer any questions you may have, and is well informed on all things food.

I started off with an oyster. I had never had the privilege, mainly because I was a bit weary of raw foods until a few years ago. The oysters offered raw or smoked, and I went with the raw Steamhouse oyster, which was recommended by our waitress. I can not even explain how delicious it was, and I regret ever being afraid of them. With a bit of the house made horse radish sauce, this was a delicious beginning to he meal.

After the oyster, we moved on to the appetizer menu which boasts a great variety of starters. We decided to go with the fried calamari and chili & cheddar fries. The calamari was good, but not great. I have had calamari many times, and this falls right in the middle of those experiences. It was not over fried, but the taste of the calamari didn’t completely shine through. I could give it a solid C+ as far as calamari goes. As for the chili & cheddar fries, I have never had anything like it. The twice-cooked fries were good, but the chili was complete with large tender pieces of beef. It was topped with 2-year raw-milk Vermont cheddar.

For our entrees, I had to go with the Texas cabrito with mashed potatoes and mac & cheese. The cabrito is pulled free-range goat that is smoked over wood and served with barbecue sauce. Wow, never had goat but it was absolutely delicious. I have to say that if you are not an adventurous eater, goat may not be for you. I can’t really explain what goat tastes like, but if you’re interested I would highly recommend it. The mashed potatoes were good, but the mac & cheese was very average. Stephanie ordered the New Mexico black bean and hominy burger. It was served with green chiles, avocado salad, lettuce, tomato, onion and pickles, on a fresh onion roll. It was an interesting burger because the patty was not completely formed. It acted as more of a spread.

All in all, I would give Roadhouse a solid B. The appetizers and starters are the real star of the meal, while the entrees seemed pretty average. If you visit there, I would stick to the oysters, cheese plate, and appetizers.

Metro Detroit’s Best Burgers

John March 16, 2009

Food Reviews

detroit, review

The Detroit Free Press recently did a “six week study” on the best burgers in the Metro Detroit area. You can read the whole article here, but here are some highlights.

Miller’s Bar
23700 Michigan Ave., Dearborn
313-565-2577

Metro Detroit’s most famous bar burger is an undeniably delicious no-frills classic: a thick patty of fresh ground beef on an honest bun, brought to your table on a square of waxed paper. Help yourself to pickles from a jar on the condiment tray; sliced onion is served on request. Want cheese? It’s Swiss or Velveeta, sliced off long loafs and melted onto the patty into near-oblivion. You won’t get a bill; just tell the bar man what you had and he’ll tell you what you owe. For its fans, the bare-bones service and semi-divey setting only enhance the growing Miller’s mystique. Hamburger, $4.75; cheeseburger, $5.50.

Poole’s Tavern
157 E. Main, Northville
248-349-1715.

Burger lovers of several persuasions wrote to extol the hand-formed, half-pound, Certified Angus Beef burgers at cozy Poole’s Tavern in downtown Northville. You can keep it low-key and simple, or amp it up with add-ons like bacon, cheeses, mushrooms or grilled onions (75 cents-$1 each). The kaiser rolls are substantial, and the toppings are fresh and flavorful. Hamburger: $5.75

Vivio’s Food & Spirits
2460 Market, Detroit
313-393-1711.

Serving Detroit’s Eastern Market district for more than 30 years, Vivio’s turns out “beefy, moist burgers” that are “always cooked exactly to your order, and to perfection,” wrote major fan Dave Gohn. As promised, these Certified Angus Beef burgers are big, juicy and well-prepared. Price includes fries. Cheeseburger: $7.75.

Nemo’s Bar
1384 Michigan, Detroit
313-965-3180

The burgers at this legendary sports bar, a stone’s throw from old Tiger Stadium, are seriously savory, juicy and tender. Readers –and we — love the ones cooked behind the bar, with Worcestershire sauce and black pepper added while the beef sizzles on the grill. The grilled sesame-seed buns add great toasted flavor, too. Ardent Nemo’s fan Kelli Kavanaugh says, “My medium-rare always comes out medium-rare, and their own special blend of mustard sauce is wickedly good.” She’s right. That hot mustard rocks. Hamburger, $4; cheeseburger $4.50

Vinsetta Grill
28028 Woodward, Royal Oak
248-543-2626

Vinsetta’s Build Your Own Burger checklist lets you choose your burger size — up to a pound — and then top it with ingredients most of us have never thought of. Choose from 10 cheeses; 20 regular but interesting toppings; 11 premium toppings (from fried egg to Chablis mushrooms) and 18 sauces, including spicy sour cream, onion marmalade and peanut sauce. And the kitchen makes your creation look great, no matter how over the top you’ve topped it. Base prices include one cheese, four regular toppings and one sauce; additional charges for extra items. Hamburger (one-third pound): $7.99.

Slap Chop

John March 16, 2009

Randoms, Research

ridiculous, video

This has been out for a little bit so a lot of you have probably seen it, but it is pure comedic gold. You may remember Vince from the ShamWow commercials. He’s at it again with the Slap Chop, which actually looks like a pretty useful little tool.

I got a little curious about exactly who this guy is. Research time!

Vince’s real name is Vince Offer, which I guess is the perfect name for a pitchman.

In 1999, Offer released a film called Underground Comedy Movie, which The New York Post called “the least amusing comedy ever made”. The film was built around masturbation, defecation, alienation, urination, necrophilia, voyeurism, casual brutality, and jokes about mentally retarded people. DVDs of the film were marked via television infomercial, go figure. The film starred Offer, who is credited as playing Batman, Fetus Salesman, JJ Cool, Flirty Harry, and Vincenzo Bulafungu. The cast also included Joey Buttafuoco, Slash and Michael Clarke Duncan, who is credited as “Gay Virgin”. I couldn’t make that stuff up.

After the film, Offer attempted to sue the Farrelly brothers, claiming that 14 scenes from There’s Something about Mary were stolen from his own film. The case was dismissed. He also attempted to sue Anna Nicole Smith for breach of contract, alleging that Smith had agreed to appear in the film.

In 2004 Offer, an ex-Scientologist, sued the Church of Scientology. He claimed that the church had declared him a criminal and urged its members to comit libel against him. Not too sure if he was successful with that one.

Anyways, now that you are an expect on all thing Vince Offer, enjoy his newest work.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUbWjIKxrrs&hl=en&fs=1]

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