Detroit Writers Recognize Members of the Food Community That Stepped in to Help People in Need in 2020
During some of the most difficult moments of this year, hospitality workers helped keep people fed
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David Rudolph [Courtesy photo]
As is tradition at Eater, we closed out 2020 by surveying local food writers and our own staff on various restaurant-related topics, and publishing their responses throughout the week. Next up: Was there one restaurant in particular that you felt really stepped up for your local community? How did they do so?
Serena Maria Daniels, Founder and Editor, Tostada Magazine:
Saffron De Twah definitely stepped up this year. Chef Omar was among the very first to see that doing business as usual, trying to reconfigure as a takeout or delivery restaurant was not going to work. He’s provided probably thousands and thousands of meals to communities throughout the year and he continues to do so during the holidays. I expect he’s figuring out
Detroit Restaurant Writers Discuss Where They Think the Industry Should Go Next as It Rebuilds
Can local restaurants and bars build a better industry than the one before COVID-19?
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Elise Brehob [Courtesy photo]
As is tradition at Eater, we closed out 2020 by surveying local food writers and our own staff on various restaurant-related topics, and publishing their responses throughout the week. Next up: Where do you think the restaurant industry should go next as it rebuilds?
Serena Maria Daniels, Founder and Editor, Tostada Magazine:
I think we are already seeing restaurants pivoting to redesign their business models to address what’s happening so far in the pandemic. We’ve seen chefs raise money to be able to feed frontline workers and vulnerable communities and partner with urban farms to provide fresh produce to families. We’ve seen some public-private partnerships to this end, which is great. We’ve also seen chefs and restaurants come together to col
The Food Events and Restaurants That Detroit Writers Are Looking Forward to in 2021
There are plenty of reasons to be excited going into the new year
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As is tradition at Eater, we closed out 2020 by surveying local food writers and our own staff on various restaurant-related topics, and publishing their responses throughout the week. Next up: What restaurant or restaurant-related (pop-up, etc.) return or debut are you most excited for in 2021?
Serena Maria Daniels, Founder and Editor, Tostada Magazine:
I really hope to see the Holy Mole contest resume next year. I know that planning events has been crazy in 2020 with endless Zoom sessions, but I was heartened to attend some excellent virtual events that involved high production value. I could see this happening with Holy Mole if in-person gathering hasn’t commenced by next fall. There’s got to be a way to shine a light on the many home cooks who participate in the event each year.
As is tradition at Eater, we closed out 2020 by surveying local food writers and our own staff on various restaurant-related topics, and publishing their responses throughout the week. Next up: What was your best restaurant meal of 2020, either takeout or dine-in?
Serena Maria Daniels, Founder and Editor, Tostada Magazine:
I can count on one hand the number of times I ate out this year. What stands out the most was during a trip to northern Michigan with my partner. I had just finished a Zoom community journalism event from a tiny motel room in Onekama, Mich. and celebrated by dining at the Glenwood, one of those classic white-tablecloth restaurants that’s popular in the area. There was no space available to eat inside, which was just fine with me. Instead, we were seated at a picnic table on the front lawn, in a wooded, garden-like setting, where I had the almond-crusted lobster tails. It was a surreal highlight of the summer.
East Eats [Courtesy photo]
As is tradition at Eater, we closed out 2020 by surveying local food writers and our own staff on various restaurant-related topics, and publishing their responses throughout the week. Next up: What newcomer on the scene excited you this year?
Serena Maria Daniels, Founder and Editor, Tostada Magazine:
I was excited to see that the pandemic didn’t slow down the opening of La Palapa del Parian, the brick and mortar addition to El Parian’s fleet of taco trucks. It was just the perfect evolution of an already stellar taqueria business. Owner Nancy Lopez opened its doors as carryout-only right around when dining-in was shut down for the first time in March. She told me at the time that she was worried about the staff that she had just hired but wanted to do what it took to figure out a way to move forward. When dining-in did start back up for a while, she and her team were ready.