Wow, what can I say? You know, there are many hidden gems just a stone's throw away from us here in Michigan, which offer lovely jaunts to little corners of the state. We found our own little corner of culinary bliss, right in Ann Arbor.
We decided to do the Zingerman's food tour. It is a great concept, and for a worthy cause. The idea is, that you visit 5 Zingerman's businesses, get your tour page signed off at each one, and once complete, the page is worth $5, per tour participant, toward a local food bank charity. Since there were 5 of us that relished in this experience, $25 went to the local food bank, courtesy of Zingerman's. This meant that we did our part in helping provide 25 meals to those in need.
I am a huge advocate of whole foods. Zingerman's uses nothing but. From stem to stern, this business is all about using the finest ingredients, and I am here to say, that the proof is literally in the pudding. My palate was dancing yesterday, and after a day spent on a "Zingerman's crawl", I slept with more than visions of sugar plums dancing in my head. Wow!
We started our tour at Zingerman's Coffee company, where we had a great cup of freshly brewed Indian Mysore. Talk about a cuppa joe! When paired with one of their savory cheddar herb scones, or an apricot palmier, you have a treat that is a great start.
Now let me add, that the Coffee company, the Creamery, and the Bakehouse are all in the same location, so the "crawl" is best started there- ;)
Next we wandered into the Creamery. Now, if you love cheese, this is probably likely to make you feel like you might rub elbows with St. Peter or St. Paul upon entry... you may even hear angelic chords as you open the doors and see the beautiful display of cheeses, as you enter. In other words, albeit just a small place, it is a cheese lover's heaven. One of the many things I love about Zingerman's, is the genuine excitement and knowledge the employees have for the products they sell. They are eager to let you sample goods, and will teach and tell you anything you want to know about them. We got to sample, and ended up taking home some amazing mozzarella, fresh from soaking in brine, as well as the famous Pimento cheese spread, and the kids tried some of their delicious gelato.
Once we were finished at the creamery, we mooooooved (had to) on to the Bakehouse. This is where some of Zimmerman's most famous products come from. It was a delight for all 5 senses. Beautiful breads on display, smells that I can't begin to justify with words, and tastes that made me feel totally wrong for enjoying myself so much in a public setting. We tried a chocolate cake that was absolutely amazing, and a cookie that very much deserved it's name, "The 'O' cookie". With it's oatmeal raisin chocolate goodness, I had a moment almost as good as the one Sally had with Harry in the diner scene. (you all know the movie reference there) From the Bakehouse, I brought home a loaf of their world famous rye bread. 
We next headed to Detroit street, in the Kerrytown district of Ann Arbor, to the famous Zingerman's Deli. If you appreciate the beauty of the display cases in a cute little vintage deli setting, this my friends, is where you find your pearly gates. Upon entry, the aroma captivates you, and friendly staff members are readily available to take your order, answer any questions, or encourage you to sample anything that you see that looks yummy. I ordered the classic Ruben sandwich, and it was divine. Paired with a crunchy, zesty pickle, and a spicy ginger ale, it was quite possibly the best, yet simplest sandwich I have had in a long time. And it is true, the rye is the world's greatest.
Last but not least, on the tour, is Zingerman's Roadhouse. Friends, this place is fantastic. But, because of it's rating on the fantastic scale, you need to make reservations. We couldn't get in for dinner, (hence why we ate at the deli instead), but we had them sign our sheet, and completed the tour there anyway. I have eaten here in past visits to Ann Arbor, and I can say that it is one of my favorite places to go for a nice meal. Now... talk about farm to fork! The head chef here, Alex Young, is also the head of the enterprise, Cornman Farms, a local, organic farm, which is the main supplier for all Zingerman's eateries. I will blog further about the Roadhouse the next time I visit... But if you are near Westgate in Ann Arbor, call in a reservation... You will be glad you did.
I highly recommend the trip to Ann Arbor to experience all that Zingerman's has to offer. It is truly a delight, that will leave your memory bank and belly full, and your trunk full of goodies to enjoy at home. From farm to fork, from tongue to tummy, this tour is sure to satisfy.
Fork on!
Sara
#eatdrinknamaste
No comments:
Post a Comment