100 peAdeaalezed ceektad aapkeeed, FOOD with order of 100 invitations. Exp. 5/31/13 FOODIE Beans and Cornbread Patti's Parties! By Esther Allweiss Ingber www.pattispartiesmi.com email:PattiMP@aol.com atrick Coleman will never forget Patti: 248-770-4548 Hours by appointment 1806630 Boutique Bridal Registry on www.artloftonline.corn Free Gift With Registry 123 West Maple Road Birmingham, MI 48009 west of Pierce GALLERY HOURS Mon-Wed, Sat 10-7 Thurs-Fri 10-8, Sun 12-f 248.647.4007 www.artloftonline.com 1810190 Wedding and Event Planner Perfection made simple 6405 Tamerlane Drive West Bloomfield, Michigan 48322 Office: 248.626.3421 • Cell: 248.535.0402 andrea@andreasolomon.com • andreasolomon.com 1810320 1IP r re" ............t1!NPFN!IM!!E!9 o e F u rzi ni 7""*"1— Yeari 4 toiuncl 2 Swim Lessons! Spring into self-confidence! Our lessons help develop motor skills, rain development and comfort in the water. 4:1 student-to-teacher ratio 30-minute weekly lessons Our pools are 90 degrees! Locations, times & details can be found on our website: o. goldfish swim school V311=fflocritaiolb goldfishswimschool.com LIKE US on Facebook! our food to be the healthiest it can be. Sunday dinners at his grandmoth- "We also do some wonderful com- .L er's house, when she brought out fort items, like old-fashioned meatloaf her best china and cutlery to serve with mashed potatoes and skillet the family all manner of gravy," he adds. comforting, Southern- Another standout is Loui- style specialties. siana Gumbo Salmon. The Coleman aims to Cajun-spiced grilled salmon replicate some of those filet served over a bed of rice happy times at his Beans is topped with the restau- and Cornbread Soulful rant's award-winning gumbo. Bistro, open since 1997 It has a great, spicy flavor. in Southfield. The cozy The lunch menu offers room, decorated in warm more than 10 items priced at tones, displays portraits $6.99. When it comes to the of African American his- vegetarian SloppyJoe,"you'd tory and memorabilia, swear you're eating ground Patrick Cole man along with black-and- beef, but it's made with white photographs of jazz crumbled soy and garnished musicians. Coleman says, with pickles and sauteed "It reminds me of my grandmother's onions,"Coleman says. dining room:' A soul food restaurant is always In addition, there's the sleek and ca- measured by its sides. Beans and sual Side Bar and a 50-seat Red Velvet Cornbread's lengthy list of side plates banquet room. includes red beans and rice, Michi- With Beans and Cornbread, Cole- gan-grown collard greens (flavored man's intent was to"take my back- with smoked turkey), candied sweet ground in fine dining and pair it with potatoes, pasta salad, green beans, the food I saw my grandmother and fried okra and Hoppin'John (black- my mom prepare. I just wanted to eyed peas and rice). I tried country give their Southern cooking a more corn with bits of colorful peppers and epicurean and healthier spin:' baked macaroni and cheese.Yum! Coleman's experience in restaurant Those were my sides when I ordered a management includes working for delicious New York strip steak, topped Unique Restaurant Group and man- with caramelized onions and grilled aging Big Fish in Dearborn for C.A. mushrooms. Muer Corp. and Forte in Birmingham Traditional items are served a dif- ferent way with the Harlem Burrito. for Epoch Restaurant Group. He relies on Executive Chef John Collard greens, tomatoes, black-eyed Arnold and able assistants to keep peas and rice are rolled in a grilled Beans and Cornbread going strong flour tortilla and served with Span- because"when it comes to running ish Harlem salsa.The most popular a kitchen, I'd be like a (cat)fish out of desserts are peach cobbler and sweet water:' potato pie. Coleman strategically located his Beans and Cornbread, featured on restaurant in Sunset Strip on North- Food Network, was a 2012 Soul Food western Highway, a largely black and finalist for Steve Harvey's Hoodie Jewish area that's close to Franklin Award and recognized multiple times Village. With 42 percent of his custom- for best Southern cooking by Metro ers not African American, Coleman Times and Hour Detroit. In 2009, Ra- correctly predicted that other ethnic chael Ray's magazine said the sweet groups and nationalities would appre- potato muffins here are "addictive:' I ciate"the only cuisine indigenous to agree! the United States:' Worth noting: friendly but leisurely I enjoyed eating light-battered, not service, open daily and early dinner specials ($11) from 4-7 p.m. weekdays. greasy, fried chicken — one of the res- Sheila Landis, a jazz and R&B singer, taurant's three most popular entrees, along with fresh salmon croquettes adds flavor to Sunday brunch, 11 a.m.- and farm-raised catfish. The chicken 2 p.m., for $12.95. parts are seasoned simply with salt, pepper, garlic and onion powder, and Beans and Cornbread then dredged in flour and deep-fried 29508 Northwestern Hwy. in 100 percent vegetable oil. Southfield, MI 48034 "That's the healthiest way to fry, (248) 208-1680 without trans fats, and so important www.beanscornbread.com with the incidence of heart disease $$ out of $$$$$ and diabetes,"says Coleman."I want 1797940 36 February 2013 I RED THREAD www.redthreadmagazine.com