One of the greatest regrets of my life is failing to capture a better picture at lunch at Little Daddy’s. You see, Little Daddy’s is a Greek-style diner in Southfield, Michigan, with locations in Taylor and Bloomfield Hills as well. It’s kind of like a Coney Island, but more Greek, which means they serve up saganaki. Saganaki is not a misspelling of the Japanese city of Nagasaki. No, it is a flaming cheese.

And so when I looked at the menu and found something called the Flaming Opa Cheeseburger, I was excited as a little kid. That’s because “opa!” is what the staff yell out when the cheese gets lit on fire. So as they brought out the dish to flame up my cheese, I was too excited to get my camera out and snag a picture of my flaming cheeseburger.

But it’s not the process that matters as much as the burger itself. And as you can tell by the picture up above, this was one sexy burger that I had to put together myself the way it was served. It may not look like a lot, but the combination of these flavors worked in a delicious way. Due to the flaming, the cheese has a bit of a crispy crust to it, adding a texture element, and is also melty without melting quite to the level of your typical sliced cheeses. Plus, to put the flame out they use lemons, so there is a tart/sour kick to the cheese as well. Finally, there were the juices left behind in the dish that made for a great sandwich dipping sauce on occasion.

Was the burger patty itself anything special? No, not really. It wasn’t anything to complain about either – along the lines of what you would expect from a burger at a diner. But what really matters is the fact that Little Daddy’s made the bold, yet amazingly simple move to add saganaki to a burger and the world is a better place for it.

After quite the kayak journey down the Huron River, I found myself in Milford, Michigan seeking food. Fortunately, I was with family that brought me to Coratti’s on Main. Having had Italian for dinner the night before, I was not the most excited, but Coratti’s was definitely different from what I had just eaten. Instead of a ristorante, it was more of a cafe, with lighter fare waiting to make its way into my stomach.

I decided to order the Chicken Parmesan Sandwich, which was prepared on a roll and served with a side of pasta. I wanted nothing to do with that side of pasta, and since I noticed it on the menu I asked for Waffle Fries instead. Because, I mean, they’re waffle fries.

It turned out that my order was a good choice. Well…mostly…because for some reason they thought it would be good to throw a pickle on my plate. And this pickle had some impact, corrupting a bit of bun and at least one waffle fry. I got rid of it as quickly as possible and moved onto the goods. The sandwich was tasty and just the right size for lunch, neither too big or too small. The waffle fries were tasty, but could have used some more time in the fryer to get crispy. As they were, they got sogged up a bit.

Nonetheless, it was a pretty good meal and a great way to finish up a rigorous kayaking journey. It wasn’t the best I’ve had, but nothing to complain about either (you know, aside from the pickle).

You can get Italian food anywhere, so on the many occasions that I have returned to my homeland of Michigan since moving away one fateful day in 2007, I have not felt a drive to get to Antonio’s in Farmington Hills. After making a trip back there, I now realize this has been a mistake. After all, Antonio’s was the site of my college graduation lunch. Upon arrival, I could almost taste their amazing bread, which was good because it came out quickly and I devoured it like a fiend.

Because this isn’t just any bread. The outside consists of a crisp, but giving exterior covered in a perfect blend of seasonings, while the inside is soft, warm and welcoming. I pretty much ate the whole basket (oh the benefits of eating dinner with a glutard and a paleo).

Having filled up nearly my entire stomach with that bread, my meal arrived: the Covatelli Bolognese. This was some shell-shaped pasta in a creamy meat sauce and definitely looked the part. It also tasted as good as it sounded, with just the right amount of meat to keep the sauce saucy and pasta that tasted like pasta should taste.

I’d call Antonio’s a hidden gem, but everyone in the Farmington Hills and West Bloomfield area knows it’s a good bet. Italian food might be everywhere, but Antonio’s is still something special.

Bates’ Hamburgers in Farmington Hills has a history with my family. As my step-dad’s favorite burger place in the area, I kind of inherited his love for their classic sliders. In the same vein as Greene’s and Hunter House, Bates’ is the third and final spot I had to review in the greasy trinity of awesome sliders of Metro Detroit. And just like in those other two reviews, it is important to note that these are real sliders: skinny patties prepped on the griddle with onions and the bun on top so that they get that tasty burger steam inside.

I, of course, ordered my double cheeseburger without the onions and without the fluorescent pickles that are known to gravitate towards burgers such as these. I also ordered some chili fries to accompany the burger.

Unfortunately, my desire to avoid pickles was not heeded and I was left with frightening green slices and the residual juices soaked into the bun. Not all was ruined, but it was not a good start. The finish, though, was glorious. The Bates burger simply tasted superior to Hunter House and Greene’s. Perhaps it is a heartier patty or a difference in seasoning, but whatever the case it is simply how it is. The fries were just as I had hoped: crinkle-cut and topped with the wet chili that is endemic to the Detroit area.

If they could deal with their pickle issue and stay open 24/7 like Greene’s, Bates’ would be unstoppable.

Once upon a time, Paul Revere rode through the streets of Boston, warning all patriots by shouting, “The redcoats are coming!” These redcoats, of course, were the British soldiers and the Americans knew that danger was coming. But when Redcoat Tavern came to West Bloomfield, Michigan, the people did not sense danger. No, they embraced it. That’s because the original Redcoat Tavern in Royal Oak had been serving up some of the most delicious food in metro Detroit for years. Yet, while I embraced the branching out of Redcoat Tavern, like the Founding Fathers, I also prepared to do battle against its famous burger.

I truly did not need to give the menu a long look, because my burger buddy Rev told me Redcoat was his favorite burger in the state of Michigan and I needed to see if he was worth listening to.

Although the menu failed to describe what this burger consisted of, aside from awesomeness, my awesome waiter was happy to let me know it came with tomatoes, lettuce and some special sauce that he described as pretty much mayo. Wow, none of this sounded good on my burger, so I took the base of patty and bun, then unveganized it by adding a fried egg and cheddar cheese from their long list of topping options. And for those of you who are wondering, no, I did not get the “zip” sauce. In fact, I didn’t do my research and did not know such a sauce existed until I talked to my buddy later that day. Alright, back to what I did order. I asked for the burger to be cooked medium rare, then ordered a side of onion rings, which my step-dad had said were delicious. And he knows delicious.

After a short wait, my grand meal arrived. “Get out of here, you stupid pickle,” I yelled in my head, then quickly removed the terrible pickle spear from my plate and sent it in the direction of my mother before taking a look at my creation. In a stark contrast to the gourmet burgers of the West Coast, my burger ingredients were encapsulated not by some fancy brioche bun, but by a fancy sesame seed bun instead. The toothpicks holding the burger together also screamed, “You’re not in California anymore,” because burgers in California are typically half-wrapped in wax paper to keep from falling apart. Without such frivolous wrapping, I could see the burger juices beginning to swell up the bun and took my first bite.

It was like burger bliss.

The meat had a medium grind to it and was packed together nicely. The juices produced by the meat made sauce unnecessary (although I’m still sure zip sauce would have been a welcome addition), and once I reached the yolk of the egg, the perfectly cooked, runny insides exploded and made the burger even juicier. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: fried egg just might be the greatest burger topping. The cheddar cheese did a great job of doing what cheese does, which is make everything taste better. And the bun, well was pretty much how you expect a sesame seed bun to be, yet it felt like a welcome breath of fresh air. Don’t get me wrong, I like brioche plenty, but combining gourmet ingredients with the patriotic (ironic) sesame seed bun was a concept that made itself at home on my taste buds.

Now the onion rings were a bit disappointing. I wouldn’t call them bad, because they didn’t have bad flavor. Instead, they were just pretty flavorless. Perhaps it was a bad batter day or my step-dad was just way off with his taste. But, he also felt they weren’t very good and declared them bland. To make matters worse, there was also no sort of sauce to dip them in except for ketchup or the egg-splosion on my plate.

Yet, fortunately these rings of onions were not the cornerstone of my meal – the burger was and it was a success. It was a great way to start out my day, which would end even better in Ann Arbor as I watched Michigan beat Notre Dame for the third year in a row. Every day like that should start with a burger like Redcoat’s.

While Detroit may be experiencing some of a resurgence (perhaps wishful thinking), it is still a rough city with a small number of little islands of brightness. One of these islands, which has been afloat since 1890, is The Whitney. This former residence of David Whitney, Jr. was converted from a mansion to a restaurant in 1986 and has flourished ever since with some of the best food Detroit has to offer. In Detroit, The Whitney is not exactly an everyday type of restaurant. The prices are pretty steep for the local standards, but are they worthwhile for the food or simply the price you pay for getting to eat in a Michigan Registered Historical Site?

The exterior of the place is both beautiful and somewhat opulent for its location in Detroit, while the interior still looks very much like it could host great house parties filled with Detroit’s bourgeoisie from the turn of the 20th century. But instead of couches and bourgeoisie, there are tables, chairs and patrons. Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata is being gently played on the piano, but snapping back to more modern times, the pianist would eventually turn out piano renditions of Elton John and Beatles songs.

The menu is what I kind of expect from an upscale restaurant, and a lot of it looked good. The Detroiter, a 30-32 oz bone-in ribeye was unfortunately no longer on the menu, but its little cousin, the New York Strip was calling my name. This 10 oz USDA Angus Beef came with fingerling potatoes, roasted corn and black beans, crispy shallots and a gorgonzola aioli for 38 bucks. All except for the shallots were ideal for an unvegan meal and although I wanted to order mine without the shallots, my family wouldn’t allow me. I think I embarrassed them. Whatever, at least I ordered it medium rare to retain some of my unvegan dignity.

What arrived was a thing of beauty. When compared to a 32 oz ribeye, a 10 oz strip doesn’t seem too big. But sitting alone on a plate with no other beef in sight, the New York Strip was quite big enough. The shallots had been fried to such a crisp that they looked nothing like the vegetable they once were. In fact, after trying them out, it actually seemed like The Whitney wanted some sort of fried taste on the steak, but weren’t sure what to fry. So, they fried the crap out of some shallots simply to have a conduit for fried goodness. It worked for me. However, I also found that the black beans and corn turned into black beans, corn and peppers. This was no good and would force me to put more effort into eating than I wanted to. But on to the eating.

This steak was incredible. It was perfectly juicy and had just a little bit of salt to bring out the perfect beefy flavor. Without the gorgonzola aioli, the steak was delicious, but with it, the steak transcended deliciousness and entered a plane of meaty glory reserved for only the best steaks in the world. The fingerling potatoes and black beans and rice were enjoyable, but they took a way back seat to the steak, which is certainly worthy of being served at The Whitney. And when you eat at The Whitney, you are not just eating food, but eating a part of the soul and history of city that once knew greatness and will hopefully come to know it again.

So thanks, Mom and Marty, for dinner at the former residence of David Whitney, Jr. The meal surely would have put a smile on his face, just like it did for mine. You know, except for the peppers. David Whitney, Jr. wouldn’t have stood for those peppers either.

On Saturday, May 7th, Justin Verlander pitched the second no-hitter of his career. It’s a hell of an achievement and certainly one to be proud of. And sure, it’s cool that he is now one of only 30 pitchers in the history of Major League Baseball to throw multiple no-hitters, but the way he celebrated is even cooler.

You see, after his historic pitching game, Verlander headed to a restaurant called Barberians in downtown Toronto. It was there that he achieved his true unvegan glory by chowing down on a steak dinner with his fellow Tigers. Ever the humble Tiger, Verlander said, “To be honest, the thing I’m going to remember is having dinner with those guys.” Damn right he is, because while pitching a no-hitter may be awesome, the memory of steak is eternal. And to further his claim for unvegan glory, he proclaimed, “I’m a filet connoisseur.”

A connoisseur indeed. A connoisseur who pitches no-hitters, eats steaks and finishes off by picking up the check for the table.

So for all of this and for being on the greatest baseball team in the world, Justin Verlander, you are a true Unvegan Hero!

No word on whether he stopped for some poutine after dinner.

(via Tigers.com)

UPDATE 1/11/12: Tonight, Verlander solidified his position as one of the top Unvegan Heroes by professing his love for Taco Bell on Conan. Not only is Taco Bell his pregame tradition, but he orders the Cheesy Gordita Crunch and orders it all without tomatoes. Verlander is simply a winner all around.

EDIT: Apparently this place is now called Blitz, but still reps the state of Michigan.

A couple weeks ago I headed to Phoenix with the girlfriend for a wedding. But this wasn’t just any weekend, it happened to be the weekend of the Michigan-Michigan State game. It’s usually a pretty big game, but with both teams undefeated (at the time), it was a game I couldn’t miss. Fortunately, said girlfriend found an interesting bar for me to watch it at in Old Town Scottsdale. It was called Upper Deck Sports Grille and was dedicated to Michigan and Michigan State fans. You would think Phoenix would be big enough to host ex-Michiganders at more than one bar, but you would be wrong.

I walked in and found the place to be packed. Supposedly Spartans took the lower level and Wolverines took the top, but on this day, the maize, green, blue and white was everywhere. There wasn’t a seat to be found, but luckily a friend of mine in Phoenix had a connection and hooked me up with a seat. I was excited for the game, but the excitement doubled when I saw what they had on tap. Bell’s Oberon! A Michigan favorite that for some reason just can’t make it one state over into California. I ordered a pitcher for the table to start my day and then sat down to look at the food menu.

It was then that my excitement tripled, because the menu had coney dogs, loose burgers and sliders. These are things you just can’t get outside of Michigan (well maybe the Midwest) and I certainly didn’t expect to find them in Arizona. I learned that the guy who started the place was from Detroit, so that led to the beautiful Michiganized menu. After thinking hard, I decided to go with the coney dog. And this wasn’t some phony coney dog that was just some dog with chili on it. No, this was the real thing, with real Pete’s Coney Island chili flown in from Michigan. Because of that, it was pricier than the average $2 coney, coming in at $6.50, but at least it included fries. Plus that’s a whole lot cheaper than a flight to Michigan.

Like any coney dog, it came with onions, but I ordered mine without. When it came out, it looked just perfect. Although I had never been to Pete’s Coney Island before, I saw that it was the same beefy, runny chili I grew up loving. The only thing that could have improved the coney dog would have been a little more chili, but I was not going to complain.

I won’t get in the details of the game, but despite the results of the game that shall not be mentioned, my belly was certainly happier for the experience at The Upper Deck. I can’t speak for the other food, but if you are a Michigander in Phoenix, The Upper Deck offers a great taste of home. And if you aren’t a Michigander, but just want to know what we grew up eating, give The Upper Deck a try.

Just before my last visit to my Detroit homeland, I happened to watch a TV show called Food Wars. This show goes all around the country and pits local restaurants against one another. In this particular episode, Detroit’s Lafayette Coney Island and American Coney Island faced off. The two Coneys were founded in the early 1900s by brothers from Greece and both claim to be the originator of the Coney Dog, a Detroit staple. On the show, American (powered by their sweet Vidalia onions) edged out Lafayette by a vote of 3-2. But how would they fare with the Unvegan? Fortunately an impromptu tour of Detroit with a last-minute visitor brought me to the corner of Lafayette and Michigan Avenue. Wondering which Coney Dog was the unvegan king, I stepped into Lafayette Coney Island.

Lafayette is set up kind of like a diner. There’s a long counter for ordering and a few small tables in the back. Since I was eating on the go, I ordered a single Coney Dog for tasting purposes. The classic Detroit Coney is prepared with delicious naturally cased dog, special Detroit chili (with Greek seasoning), onions and mustard. But they are always willing to drop the mustard and onions for an unvegan like me. In a matter of seconds, my dog was ready. I paid up the $2.50 and was ready to test out Food Wars’ runner-up.

I bit in and it was damn good. The natural casing of the dog gave way easily to unleash the delicious flavor inside the dog. But the flavor of the dog wasn’t so important compared to that of the chili. The chili managed to carry a lot of meaty goodness while retaining the soupiness that sets Detroit chili apart from all others. It was spiced beautifully and within a few minutes the dog was fully consumed by yours truly.

It was a great dog and I could have easily dropped three more and a loose burger, but with my personal food war taking place, I had to stop myself at just one. And who won? Check the scoreboard up to the right to see who won the Unvegan’s hometown (yeah, I was born in Detroit) food war. No matter what the results of my food war may be, this is a food battle definitely worth fighting for yourself.

Just before my last visit to my Detroit homeland, I happened to watch a TV show called Food Wars. This show goes all around the country and pits local restaurants against one another. In this particular episode, Detroit’s Lafayette Coney Island and American Coney Island faced off. The two Coneys were founded in the early 1900s by brothers from Greece and both claim to be the originator of the Coney Dog, a Detroit staple. On the show, American (powered by their sweet Vidalia onions) edged out Lafayette by a vote of 3-2. But how would they fare with the Unvegan? Fortunately an impromptu tour of Detroit with a last-minute visitor brought me to the corner of Lafayette and Michigan Avenue. Wondering which Coney Dog was the unvegan king, I stepped into American Coney Island.

American is set up kind of like an average small-town restaurant. There’s a long counter for ordering, a bunch of tables and a good deal of space. Since I was eating on the go, I ordered a single Coney Dog at the counter for tasting purposes. The classic Detroit Coney is prepared with delicious naturally cased dog, special Detroit chili (with Greek seasoning), onions and mustard. But they are always willing to drop the mustard and special Vidalia onions for an unvegan like me. In a minute or two, my dog was ready. I paid up the $2.50 and was ready to test out the winner of TV’s Food Wars.

I bit in and it was damn good. The natural casing of the dog had a great snap to it that let you know you were biting into something special that needed just a little bit of extra protection. The extra bit of crispiness was a nice touch and really enhanced the overall taste of the Coney. This chili didn’t have a strong meat presence, but was still rooted in that delicious soupy Detroitiness. The seasoning, as expected, was delicious and it took me about as long to finish the dog as it did to prepare it.

It was a great dog and I could have easily dropped three more and a loose burger, but with my personal food war taking place, I had to stop myself at just one. So who won? Check the scoreboard up to the right to see who won the Unvegan’s hometown (yeah, I was born in Detroit) food war. No matter what the results of my food war may be. Both of these places are definitely worth a visit.