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Heart And Soul Food
Beans & Cornbread restaurant succeeds by making Southern cooking healthier.
W
hen soul food began its popu-
Beans & Cornbread has come
larity sometime in the 1960s,
a long way, featured on TV's
many people were skeptical
Food Network as a must-dine
about trying it because they considered the
restaurant in Detroit and men-
cuisine to be overly high in fat and calories. tioned in the same company
This thinking was one of the first things as Sylvia's in Harlem, New
to which Patrick Coleman, owner of Beans York, Neeley's in Memphis,
& Cornbread, Northwestern Highway
Tenn., Mert's Heart & Soul
between 12 Mile and Inkster, Southfield,
in Charlotte, N.C., and Aunt
wanted to give special notice ... The word
Kizzy's Back Porch in Marina
was soon out about Beans & Cornbread,
del Rey, outside of Los Angeles.
resulting in people's thoughts about high
In 13 years, it is estimated
fat and calories being changed.
that more than a million
Now celebrating its 13th anniversary,
and a-half people have come
B&C has become better known for its
through the restaurant doors ... eating
healthful dining ways.
almost 270,500 pounds of
"My great-grandmother's
chicken wings, about 50,000
style of soul food was high
pounds of salmon, almost
in fat and calories because
40,000 pounds of shrimp
she used a lot of animal fat in
and around 50,000 gallons
its preparation:' says Patrick,
of gumbo soup.
former Forte dining room
The highly popular best-
manager and Sebastian's gen-
sellers on the menu are
eral manager.
down-home fried chicken,
Today, Beans & Cornbread
almost 300,000 pounds
does a much healthier style
since opening, and barbe-
Patrick Col eman
of Southern cooking that
cued chicken ... Salmon
his great-grandmother or
croquettes with roasted red
grandmother would never recognize ...
pepper sauce are a very close second.
No lard or fatback (animal fat) in any of its
Besides the luscious menu items, specials
preparation ... Only 100 percent vegetable
include beef ribs, fried lobster tails and
oil ... No trans-fat or MSG and 99 percent
sauteed perch ... But if the ingredients are
of the menu is made from scratch ...
available, they can be ordered at almost
Collard greens and beans, both considered
any time ... No other restaurant, not even
super foods with vitamin A, beta carotene
those named above, has a Harlem Burrito,
and other excellent nutrients, are seasoned
or soul food in a tortilla shell ... None of
with smoked turkey wings ... There are
the restaurants above have the same lus-
many grilled fish options including tilapia,
cious, excellent sweet potato muffins (over
salmon, catfish, etc., all with excellent taste
a million have been served at Beans &
and emphasis on fewer calories and grams
Cornbread who originated the yummies)
of fat.
... Along with its being very attuned to a
healthier form of cooking, veg-
etarian options are also always
constantly featured.
B&C is open seven days
... Monday-Thursday, 11-9;
Friday, 11-10; Saturday noon-
10; Sunday, 11-9 ... All-you-
can-eat brunch on Sunday is
11-2, $9.95 ... Those hard-
to-beat lunch specials $5.99
Monday through Friday, 11-4,
and Fish Fry every Monday
evening, $6.99.
Dining room seating is for
70, with another 24 in the intimate next-
door Side Bar with live entertainment
Wednesdays and Thursdays ... On the res-
taurants other side, the Red Velvet Room
holds up to 50 guests for private events.
Yes, Beans & Cornbread has certainly
come a long way ... And its healthful
approaches in dining very highly received.
GOOD DINING DEAL ... The freshly
ground and molded on premises Turkey or
Chicken Burger Plates (no bun), plus soup
or salad, vegetable and mashed potatoes,
$8.95 ... Siegel's Deli, Maple just west of
Haggerty, Commerce Township ... (And
don't forget to have a piece of Angela's ter-
rific strudel, blueberry, apple or cherry, if
any are left).
NUMEROUS READERS ask if I recall
Detroit ever having supper clubs years ago
... Supper clubs seemed almost entirely
limited to New York City and never did
thrive with the same enthusiasm when
tried elsewhere.
Charlie Costello succeeded somewhat
in bringing a supper club to Detroit, but it
wasn't easy ... He was born in New York
and came here to play with his orchestra
at the Old Wayne Club, Van Dyke Club and
Whittier Hotel's Gold Cup Room before
moving to the Wedgewood Room on East
Jefferson ... He later bought the place and
changed the name to Charlie Costello's ...
Supper Clubs were usually small, elegant
rooms with intimate atmosphere, open for
dinner and supper only, no lunch or danc-
ing ... But I think Charlie had dancing.
RECOMMENDED SANDWICH DEPT.
... The large slow-roasted turkey breast
at R.J.'s American Grille, Northwestern
Highway south of 14 Mile, Farmington
Hills, roasted on premises five hours andl-
includes fries and new dill pickle, $8.95.
New manager at R.J.'s, Darryl Leff, the
cousin of Rabbi Emeritus David Nelson of
Congregation Beth Shalom in Oak Park,
and chef Rob Krosnick, former Stage, Katz's,
etc., deli gent, have rooting rights in com-
mon ... Both graduated from Oak Park
High only two years apart ... Darryl in
1979 and Rob in 1981.
QUESTION & ANSWER DEPT. ... "I
used to see Dick Purtan a lot at a Royal
Oak delicatessen. I remember seeing you
there too. Do you remember which one it
was?" ... Allen Kashden
[Sure, Sammy's Corned Beef and Rye,
owned by Sam Sadler in Ferndale, not
Royal Oak, where Dick used to go with his
radio station side kick, Tom Ryan."]
CONGRATS ... To Karrie Slominski on
her 33rd birthday ... To Pam Smith on her
birthday ... To Harold Maloff on his 60th
birthday ... To Sylvia Hubert Goldberg on
her 95th birthday ... (Correction, To Boris
and Jan Shain on their 38th anniversary,
not 48th).
Danny's address is dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net .
Such a Deal! ...Worth the stop at Vineyards!
r
"MI
Dinner
!
f or 4
L
Includes choice of:
1 LB Turkey, Corned beef or Pastrami
1 LB or Potato salad or coleslaw
1 LB Double baked rye bread
Old and new dill pickles
Russian dressing
Valid after 3:00 p.m • Not valid with
any other coupon or discount
Exp 11/15/10
mom
I ■ 1 =NE
....
r
WEEKEND BRUNCH
I Fish Plate & Eggs I
I I Serves 2 • Includes:
Nova Lox & Whitefish Salad
I
II sill
L
VEGAN &
GLUTEN FREE
AVAILABLE!
• Scrambled Eggs
• Served with Vegetable & Garnish
• Cream Cheese & (2) Bagels
With purchase of 2 fountain drinks.
FREE POUND
GOURMET SALAD
(with purchase of the same of
equal or greater value)
32418 Northwestern Hwy. between Middlebelt & 14 Mile
52
October 21 • 2010
IN
MICHIGAN'S , Q,
6)7 fPL
_DD C_,,)
-
The Detroit News
248.855-9463
Order online:
www.VineyardDeli.com
Weekday Dinner Hours 4.7 pm