FUN FACT: Hungry Howie’s was founded in Taylor, Michigan.
Hey, it’s JB!
I recently had the honor of sitting down with Hajime Sato, the owner and chef of Clawson sushi restaurant Sozai. Earlier this year, Sato received the highly coveted James Beard award for Best Chef: Great Lakes, gaining notoriety in part for incorporating sustainability into his work.
I talked with Sato about the challenges of operating a sustainable sushi restaurant and what that means in Michigan, where most of the fish for sushi is flown in, contributing to carbon dioxide emissions. And, I tried a barnacle!
Barnacles are popular and overharvested in the Mediterranean, but not as much in other parts of the world. So, he sources barnacles from Alaska to start the conversation with visitors about the delicate balance of sustainable sushi.
Barnacles are just one conversation starter on the table at Sozai.
Dig In,
JB
- The Detroit Food Academy is a finalist for a $50,000 food justice for kids award from the Newman’s Own Foundation.
- Former NBA player Kevin Johnson’s Fixins Soul Kitchen will have the grand opening of its Detroit location on Friday, Aug. 23.
- The winner of last year’s annual collard green cook-off in Detroit, Buddah Calhoun, won again.
- Collect Beer Bar, formerly in Eastern Market, has opened the doors at its new location on the east side.
A schedule of pop-ups for the week.
Thurs., Aug. 22:
Pink Flamingo, 2746 Vermont St. 6-10 p.m.
Detroit Coffee Club at Batch Brewing, 1400 Porter St.
Ayiti Spaghetti at Two Birds, 8130 Kercheval. 5-10 p.m.
Fri., Aug. 23:
Randos Sandos at Brewery Faisan, 1087 Beaufait St. 5-8 p.m.
Konjo Me at Two Birds, 8130 Kercheval.
Food Truck Fridays at E. Warren Farmers Market, 16835 E. Warren. 12-8 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 24:
Sir Duck BBQ at Brewery Faisan, 1087 Beaufait St. 4-8 p.m.
Savor Red at Two Birds, 8130 Kercheval.
Melway Burgers at Collect Beer Bar, 9301 Kercheval. 5-8 p.m.
Sun., Aug. 25:
The Egg Hunt at Two Birds, 8130 Kercheval. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Marksie’s Cooking at Red Hook, 2761 E. Jefferson. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Eat Savory Sav at Two Birds, 8130 Kercheval.
Melway Burgers at Collect Beer Bar, 9301 Kercheval. Noon to 3 p.m.
Mon., Aug. 26:
Kusina at Motor City Wine, 1949 Michigan Ave.
Tacos Hernandez at The Kiesling, 449 E. Milwaukee Ave. 5-10 p.m.
Insatiable Vegan at Two Birds, 8130 Kercheval.
Tues., Aug 27:
Martes Market at The Congregation, 9321 Rosa Parks Blvd. 4-8 p.m.
Wed., Aug 28:
Sandos at Brewery Faisan, 1087 Beaufait St.
Ayiti Spaghetti at Two Birds, 8130 Kercheval. 5-10 p.m.
Michaela Ayers and I (JB) co-hosted a storytelling booth at Detroit’s annual collard green cook-off. We asked event attendees about maternal connections to food and memories of collard greens. Ayers turned the stories into a podcast episode for Black Her Stories that you can check out here.
