| MARY SPENCER’S FAVORITE FOOD SOURCES METRO DETROIT AREA As a culinary instructor, I feel that it is part of my job description to educate my students about where to purchase good quality ingredients at a reasonable price. Over the years, I have developed a list of favorite grocers and food sellers. I hope you will enjoy shopping at these establishments as much as I do. MEAT Ronnie’s Quality Meats Gratiot Central Market (across from Eastern Market) 1429 Gratiot, Detroit, MI Ph: 313-566-5471 Pork (especially ribs), beef (great prime rib), ox tails, etc. at very reasonable prices See complete directions to Eastern Market, Detroit, MI below Wigley’s Corned Beef Gratiot Central Market 1429 Gratiot, Detroit, MI Ph: 313-831-6881 The best corned beef in the world! See directions to Eastern Market, Detroit, MI below Capital Poultry (Al Arnone) 2448 Riopelle, Detroit, MI Ph: 313-567-8200 Great quality Amish chicken, poultry Dearborn Sausage Co. 2450 Wyoming St., Dearborn, MI Ph: 313-842-2375 Great hams and sausage. Famous for its spiral cut ham, but the Old Fashioned ham is just as good, if not better. Sparrow’s Meats (inside Kerrytown Market) 415 North 5th Ave., Ann Arbor, MI Ph: 734-761-8175 Pricey but great quality meat. Where I buy veal bones and imported anchovies. PRODUCE Randazzo’s Market 6701 Newburgh Rd., Westland, MI Ph: 734-454-1712 and other locations For over a decade, I have been raving about the quality, great prices and global selection of fruit and vegetables at Randazzo’s. Not a gourmet market with heirloom tomatoes or wild mushrooms, just a great selection of fresh produce. Block’s Farm Market 21960 Eureka Rd., Romulus, MI Ph: 734-941-9388 Seasonal open air market south of metro airport. Open from spring through fall. Great prices. Stuff a bag of corn for $2.99. My best effort was 30 ears per bag. Don’t be embarrassed – corn stuffing is encouraged. Also, good prices on pickling pickles, squash and bottled spices. Do NOT speed on Eureka Rd, heavily patrolled! The Produce Station 1629 S. State St., Ann Arbor, MI Ph: 734-663-7848 Hard to find produce and specialty gourmet products, ready to heat entrees. FISH Monahan’s Fish Market (inside Kerrytown Market) 415 N. 5th, Ann Arbor, MI Ph: 734-662-5118 Pricey for some fish but the best quality. Great customer service. Wide variety. Make and sell their own fish stock. Costco (various locations) A limited selection of good quality fish, e.g. salmon, trout, halibut, shellfish at a good price. Good turnover. Frozen cod is good quality and a good buy. Hillers (various locations) 425 N. Center, Northville, MI Ph: 248-344-1030 A limited selection of high quality fish (especially salmon) and shellfish. The swordfish is reasonably priced. CHEESE R. Hirt, Jr. Co. (Eastern Market) 2468 Market St., Detroit, MI Ph: 313-567-1173 A tremendous selection of cheese. Go on a weekday when you can sample cheese at your leisure. Saturday is fun but hectic. Also, Plu Gras butter, puff pastry, wicker baskets and specialty foods. Trader Joe’s (various locations) Decent selection of good quality cheeses. Not Hirt’s but more convenient locations. Zingerman’s 422 Detroit St., Ann Arbor, MI Ph: 734-663-3354 High priced but high quality artisanal cheeses. Great customer service with knowledgeable staff. A cheese lover’s paradise. DAIRY Guernsey Farms Dairy 21300 Novi Rd., Novi, MI Ph: 248-349-1466 The best whipping cream, old European style. Rich ice cream. Calder Dairy 9334 Finzel Rd., Carleton, MI Ph: 734-654-2622 Operating dairy farm. Come at 4 PM to watch the cows being milked. A great day trip for the kids. Homemade ice cream, sour cream, non-homogenized milk. SPICES Penzey’s Spice Company 17712 W. 13 Mile, Beverly Hills, MI Ph: 248-647-6177 I dearly miss Rafal’s Spice Co., Eastern Market, but Penzey’s does have a good selection. Vandana’s Indian Spice Market 24259 Novi Rd., Novi, MI Ph: 248-348-0002 Indian spices and a limited selection of commonly used spices such as paprika, peppercorns, bay leaves sold in bulk at a good price. Hashem’s Nut and Coffee Gallery (see below) GOURMET PRODUCTS Zingerman’s (see above) A fine selection of artisanal products, olive oils, vinegars, cheeses, smoked fish, cured meats, etc. High priced but high quality. Papa Joe’s 6900 N. Rochester Rd., Rochester, MI Ph: 248-609-5670 or 34244 N. Woodward, Birmingham, MI Ph: 248-723-9400 A great food emporium. Wine tasting. Upscale gourmet grocery. Offers a service where they will cook your fish or meat selection before your eyes. WINE Simply Wine – downtown Northville next to Epiphany Kitchen. Village Corner (Corner of Forest and South University) 601 South Forest, Ann Arbor, MI Ph: 734-995-1818 Great selection. Knowledgeable staff. Only criticism – sometimes must wait an inordinate length of time for a simple wine recommendation while the staff waits on a preferred customer. Years ago, we held a blind wine tasting where guests sampled a selection of wines from five area purveyors. The criteria for each wine shop – give us your best big Cabernet, reasonably priced red, luscious Chardonnay, and white to serve with fish for a total sum under $100. The wine selections were blindly rated by each guest. Four of the shops came in between $96 and $99.50, making their selection based on price, not quality. Village Corner won by a landslide for a cost under $80. BREAD Cantoro’s Market 19710 Middlebelt Rd., Livonia, MI Ph: 248-478-2345 Zingerman’s (see above) Avalon Bakery 422 W. Willis, Detroit, MI Ph: 313-832-0008 Wonderful small artisanal bread bakery. CANDY Rocky Peanut Co. (Eastern Market) 2489 Russell St., Detroit, MI Ph: 313-567-6871 Bulk candy, dried fruits, nuts, spices. ETHNIC I find it is helpful to initially shop at ethnic groceries with a specific menu, rather than wandering aimlessly through the aisles. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Generally sales staff are happy to educate you about their cuisine and culture. CHINESE/ASIAN Evergreen Supply Co. 26760 Lahser Rd., Southfield, MI Ph: 248-354-8181 A great selection of Chinese and Asian foods JAPANESE Koyama Shoten 37176 6 Mile, Livonia, MI Ph: 734-464-1480 Will most likely have all the ingredients one may need for any Japanese recipe. Friendly, helpful staff. World Market 42705 Grand River, Novi, MI Ph: 248-374-0844 Largest Japanese market in Michigan. ITALIAN Cantoro’s Market 19710 Middlebelt, Livonia, MI Ph: 248-478-2345 My favorite Italian market. Fresh baked Italian breads, wonderful deli selection, dried pastas, cheeses and fresh made subs. Alcamo’s Market 4423 Schaeffer Rd., Dearborn, MI Ph: 313-584-3010 Filled to the brim with Italian products, olive oils, vinegars, pastas, etc. MEXICAN Honeybee Market (near west side, near abandoned train station) 2443 Bagley, Detroit, MI Ph: 313-237-0295 Best Mexican market in the metro Detroit area. Good produce department. Take home some marinated chicken for the grill. While in Mexican town try the luncheon tacos at Lupita’s Tacqueria, 3443 Bagley, Detroit, MI Ph: 313-843-1105. INDIAN Vandana’s Indian Spice Market (see above) Lakshmi Indian Market, 29113 W. 8 Mile, Livonia, MI Ph: 248-476-0400 MIDDLE EASTERN Greenland Market 15237 W. Warren, Dearborn, MI Ph: 313-584-5445 Hashems Nuts and Coffee Gallery 13041 W. Warren, Dearborn, MI Ph: 313-581-3212 A small nut shop specializing in Lebanese and Turkish products. Many varieties of fresh nuts and spices by bulk. Shatila Bakery 14300 W. Warren, Dearborn, MI Ph: 313-582-1952 Fresh phyllo dough. EASTERN EUROPEAN Polish Market 2938 E. Maple Rd., Troy, MI Ph: 248-577-5334 Srodek’s Market 44632 Mound Rd., Sterling Hts., MI Ph: 586-997-0950 Good fresh Polish sausage Bozek’s Polish Market 2297 18 Mile, Sterling Hts., MI Ph: 586-991-0135 Sofia’s Market 47764 Pontiac Trail, Wixom, MI Ph: 248-669-3535 Russian focus. Smoked fish and canned fish. SCOTTISH Ackroyd's Scottish Bakery 25566 Five Mile Rd. Redford, MI 313-532-1181 Beech Daly and 5 Mile rd. ***Sorry for the west side bias. It’s just that this is where I shop and what I know. 10-2009 Directions to Eastern Market, Detroit: FROM THE WEST: Take 1-94 E to 1-75 S to the Mack Avenue exit. Go east (turn left) onto Mack Avenue. Take Mack Avenue to Russell Street and turn right. FROM THE NORTH: Take I-75 S to the Mack Avenue exit. Go east (turn left) on Mack Avenue. Take Mack Avenue to Russell Street and turn right. FROM THE EAST: Take I-94 W to I-75 S to the Mack Avenue exit. Go east (turn left) onto Mack Avenue. Take Mack Avenue to Russell Street and turn right. FROM THE SOUTH: During the Gateway Construction Project: Take I-75 N to I-96 E exit at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (turn left) onto MLK Blvd. Stay on MLK Blvd, after crossing Woodward Ave, it turns into Mack Ave, take Mack Ave to Russell St and turn right. |
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| GREAT RESOURCE FOR FINDING THE BEST INGREDIENTS FOR YOUR MENUS. |
