The 2009 Comerica CityFest, which happens annually every Fourth of July weekend, starts this Wednesday, July 1st in Detroit's New Center area (Woodward and W. Grand Blvd., by the Fisher Building). In addition to a stellar lineup of free musical performances ranging from some of Detroit's finest (from Bettye LaVette to the Silent Years) to rising national acts (Mat Kearney, the Veronicas), the festival, as always, has a enormous assortment of the metro area's best eats. Though it is now called "CityFest" (an acknowledgement that it is a festival celebrating everything about the city and not just its food), its "Tastefest" roots still hold strong.
Behold, the menu (with a few notations, courtesy of moi):
Restaurants Selling “Tastes” of Their Specialties
Aw ... Shucks
Williamsburg, MI
Roasted Sweet Corn with hot butter and assorted spices
Bangkok Cuisine Express II
4216 Woodward Ave, Detroit
Gang Dang, Kao Pad, Cashew Chicken, Thai Style Pork Sausage, Vegetable Roll
Centaur Bar
2233 Park Ave, Detroit
Calypso Baby Back Ribs, Thai Peanut Chicken Salad, Blackened Shrimp Skewers, Cheesecake Lollipops
www.centaurbar.com
Chan’s Café
Hollywood, FL
Chicken on a Stick, Shrimp Fried Rice, Veggie Lomein, Veggie Fried Rice, Egg Roll
Note: Why is everything better on a stick?
Cheeburger Cheeburger
17398 Haggerty Rd, Livonia
Cheeseburger with fun toppings, Mahi Sandwich, Seasoned Curly Fries
www.cheeburger.com
Clubhouse Tavern
Lower Level Fisher Building
3011 West Grand Blvd, Detroit
Choose your flavor Wings, French Fries
Damon’s Grill
3150 Boardwalk, Ann Arbor
Baby Back Ribs, Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich, Chicken or Steak Kabob, Soft Pretzel Sticks
www.damons.com
Fiesta Bowl
Houston, TX
Chicken, Seafood or Beef Taco Salad
Note: TX? WTF?
Finn & Porter
Doubletree Guest Suites Fort Shelby/Detroit Downtown
“The official hotel of Comerica Cityfest”
525 West Lafayette Blvd, Detroit
Sushi rolls
www.finnandporter.com
Note: Really? Sushi rolls?
Happy’s Pizza
7450 Woodward, Detroit
Pizza Slices, Wing Dings, Bread Sticks
www.eathappyspizza.com
Note: I like pizza!
Harbor House
34250 Groesbeck, Clinton Township & Greektown 440 Clinton Street, Detroit
Shrimp, Catfish, Jambalaya
Kirk’s Open Pit Bar-B-Q
33766 Woodward Ave, Birmingham
Spare Ribs, Rib Tips, BBQ Chicken, Sweet Potato Fries, Coleslaw
www.kirksbbq.com
Kola’s Food Factory
17168 Fort St, Riverview
Crispy Jumbo Chicken Wings, Nacho Grande, Shrimp Taco, Pulled Pork, Butterfly Chips
Lazybones Smokehouse
27475 Groesbeck Hwy, Roseville
BBQ Beef Sandwich, Applewood Smoked BBQ Ribs, Pig Candy, Double Stuffed Pig Burger, Pit Smoked Beans, Honey Buttered Cornbread, Smoke House Slaw
www.lazybonessmokehouse.net
Note: Pig candy. Try it. Like bacon wrapped in crack-cocaine.
Marwood Inn
6062 River Rd, East China
Seafood Wrap, Chicken Caesar Wrap, Chicken Caesar Salad, Steak Caesar Salad, Razz-Cherry Chicken Salad, Cold Rainbow Salad
Maverick’s Sliders
Detroit, MI
Beef, Chicken and Fish Sliders
Motown Kabob
6501 Woodward, Detroit
Chicken Schwarma Sandwich, Falafel Sandwich, Hommous, Tabouli
www.motownkabob.com
Mozart Catering
Canton, OH
Potato and Cheese Pierogies, German Potato Pancake, Cabbage and Noodles, German Beer Bratwurst
www.mozart-catering.com
New Eastern Flame
304 South Ashley, Ann Arbor
Chicken Tandoori, Plaka Panir with rice, Black-eye Pea Salad, Samosa, Vegetarian Grape Leaves
Note: Samosa. Mmmm. Deep-fried mashed 'taters. Yum.
New Center Eatery
3100 W Grand Blvd, Detroit
Chicken & Waffles, Fish & Waffles, Jerk Dusted Baby Back Ribs, Broasted Potatoes
Oslo
1456 Woodward, Detroit
Gang Gai, Pad Thai, Spring Rolls
www.oslodetroit.com
Pizzeria Venti
655 West Kirby, Detroit
Bolini, Bocce Balls, Timpanini, Pizza Slice, Side Salad, Cannoli
www.pizzeriaventidetroit.com
Note: WHAT? A pizza place I don't know about in Detroit? Ohmygodhavetogo.
Red Wood Grill
Commerce Twp, MI
BBQ Chicken Drumstick, Pulled Pork Sandwich, Fresh Watermelon, French Fries
Note: I'll bring my own damn watermelon. You can get a whole one in Mexicantown for like a dollar.
Rice Bowl Fresh Asian Kitchen
New Center One Building 3031 W Grand Blvd, Detroit & Millender Center 555 Brush, Detroit
General Tso Chicken, Sweet & Sour Chicken, Sesame Chicken, Shrimp Fried Rice, Vegetable Fried Rice
www.ricebowlasiankitchen.com
Skewers House of Kabob
19217 Newburg, Livonia
Shish Kabob, Chicken Kabob, Kafta, Grape Leaves
The Melting Pot of Troy
888 West Big Beaver Rd, Troy
Teriyaki Sirloin, Cajun Chicken, Strawberries & Chocolate
www.meltingpot.com
Note: I always get the strawberries and chocolate hoping that they'll be better than what they are, but they never are.
The Potato Factory
Detroit, MI
The All American, The Motown
Union Jacks
Detroit, MI
Fish-n-Chips, Fish Sandwich, Coleslaw, Deep Fried Mars Bar, Deep Fried Twinkie
Unique Creations
Detroit, MI
Jerk Ribs, Vegetarian Lasagna, Stuffed Bell Pepper, Grilled BBQ Sweet Plantains, Greens, Hot Water Cornbread
Waves Inn
20351 Grand River, Detroit
Fried Crab Cakes, Catfish Nuggets, Fried Ocean Perch, Fried Okra, BBQ French Fries
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DESSERT DISTRICT
Trenton Ice Cream Shoppe
“The official ice cream of Comerica Cityfest”
2081 West Rd, Trenton
Ice Cream Cones, Sundaes, Sanders Cream Puff Sundae. itti Bitz and Lemon Chill
Bear Claw Coffee
Doubletree Guest Suites Fort Shelby/Detroit Downtown
“The official hotel of Comerica Cityfest”
525 West Lafayette Blvd, Detroit
Hot and Cold Coffee, Espresso and Tea drinks
www.bearclawcoffee.com
Bloomfield Canopy Cheesecake Co
White Lake, MI
Original Cheesecake with toppings, Cheesecake Lollipop
Casey’s New York Style Ice
Harper Woods, MI
Authentic Italian Ice
Good Girls Go to Paris Crepes
2 John R, Detroit
Crepes with sweet filling
Sweet Potato Sensations
17346 Lasher Road, Detroit
Traditional Sweet Potato Pie, Sweet Potato Pecan Pie, Sweet Potato Cheesecake, Sweet Potato Cookies
www.sweetpotatosensations.com
Note: The sweet potato cheesecake sells out fast.
The Chocolate Gallery Café
3672 Chicago Rd, Warren
Chocolate Buckingham Torte, Fudge Brownies w/Chocolate Chips, Chocolate Chunk Cookies, Miniature Chocolate Decadence Tortes
The CupCake Kitchen
The Mall at Partridge Creek
17410 Hall Rd, Clinton Twp
Assorted Cupcakes and icing
www.thecupcakekitchen.net
The Funnel Cake Place
Hollywood, FL
Funnel Cakes with toppings
Note: FL? WTF?
Union Jacks The Great British Bakery
Detroit, MI
Deep-fried Mars Bars, Deep Fried Twinkies, Scottish Trifle, Strawberry Scone
Note: Deep-fried Mars Bars. A CityFest tradition.
Tickets are available at 16 for $10.00, with most food items costing from 3-7 each. Bring cash and bottled water (because trust me, you don't want to have to pay for it there--though there are always some entrepreneurial souls parked along W. Grand Boulevard selling bottled water out of coolers for $1.00 each, a much better deal if you forgot to bring your own). And while it is always tempting to visit all of your favorites, there is no better opportunity than CityFest to branch out and try something new. I'm telling you, pig candy: like bacon-flavored crack.
