arts & life
din i n g around
the D
A few of the
sliders available
at Green Dot
Stables
Green Dot Stables
N
ow that Passover
found potential in the
is over and bread
abandoned bar. It’s close
is back in season,
to their Johnny Noodle
have I got a fun place for
King Asian restaurant on
you!
West Fort Street; the cou-
Many of the delicious
ple also own Huron Room
menu items at Green Dot
in southwest Detroit.
Stables, located west of
The casual, hip Green
Esther
Downtown Detroit, are
Dot Stables has a stone
Allweiss
served inside soft little
and brick exterior with
Ingber
white buns — “sliders” in
green-painted cedar
Contributing
Detroit parlance — mak- Writer
shakes. A brown horse
ing it very nice having
figure atop the roof is a
chametz back.
tipoff to the equestrian
According to General Manager
theme inside. Races worldwide
Matt Trupino, the former Green
are broadcast continuously, and
Dot Bar that operated here on
names of famous jockeys and tiny
West Lafayette at 14th Street had
club helmets decorate eaves. Horse
a shady reputation. He and server
photographs hang in the dining
Erin Brigges say current custom-
room and hand-painted murals
ers have shared stories with them
decorate walls leading to a back
about Green Dot being an after-
patio bar.
hours spot popular with cops and
Les Molnar, head chef at Green
illicit lovers, and it possibly was a
Dot Stables, graduated from Le
brothel. Fire eventually shuttered
Cordon Bleu College of Culinary
the building, which was construct- Arts in Chicago. His cooking
ed in 1970.
credentials include Brasserie
That was then. Four years ago or Ruhlmann in Rockefeller Plaza
so, as part of the new Detroit ris-
(New York City) and Town Tavern
ing, Jacques and Christine Driscoll and Roast locally.
Molnar’s menu for Green Dot is
filled with eclectic delights, often
combining unexpected ingredi-
ents. They’re affordable, too, at $2
or $3 each. The same prices apply
to bottles of beer, drafts, certain
cocktails, wine (except for a $15
sparkling bottle) and non-alcohol-
ic beverages.
“We want you to try a bunch
of things you never tried before,”
Trupino said.
Several sliders qualify as cus-
tomer favorites. The Korean, for
example, gets its name from the
kimchi (fermented cabbage) that
pleasantly balances peanut butter
on a beef patty. I enjoyed crunchy
panko-coated fried chicken in sage
syrup. My Black Bean slider had
a tomato slice and avocado sour
cream.
Mystery Meat is a popular, rotat-
ing slider. The first time I ordered
it, I got shredded beef brisket with
a cheese-mustard sauce. Yum!
On another visit, the
special slider consisted of shred-
ded alpaca (llama) shoulder with
banana quinoa and paste of arbol
and guajillo chiles.
Things I liked included both
Green Dot soups. Chicken
Paprikas has spaetzle noodles and
sour cream; New England-style
Clam Chowder includes potato,
bacon and cream, with a kicky
sriracha sauce squiggle on top.
The lemony kale salad is made
with quinoa and shallots. Iceberg
Wedge includes tomato, red onion
and bacon lardons in Thousand
Island-bleu cheese dressing.
Corktown Smore is a heated cin-
namon-Nutella-fluff slider.
My friend Carolyn Silverstein
of Franklin recommended getting
the thinly cut truffle fries. Order
them light on the truffle-herb sea-
soning — otherwise, they can be
rather salty. As an exception to the
rule, fries are shareable. The five
L’CHAIM
For those who appreciate wine and spirits,
here are some fun options:
• Wine Tasting in Guardian Building:
This wine tasting event is a fundraiser
for Pontiac’s Furniture Bank, which helps
homeless families in the area get back
on their feet. 7-10 p.m. May 7. $50. 500
Griswold, Detroit. (248) 332-1300, ext. 209.
• Gin: The Original Flavored Vodka
at Grosse Pointe War Memorial: A cel-
ebration of this botanical spirit includes
six samples and is guided by sommelier
58 May 5 • 2016
*
Green Dot Stables
2200 W. Lafayette
Detroit, MI 48334
(313) 962-5588
www.greendotstables.com
$ out of $$$$
NEW CHICKEN JOINT IN CLAWSON
News To Use
CINCO DE MAYO MARGARITA
MEX in Bloomfield Hills has created
a one-of-a-kind margarita that will
be available only on Cinco de Mayo.
The margarita is made with premium
110-proof Herradura Silver Tequila
then mixed with fresh-squeezed citrus,
Cointreau and agave nectar and served
in a 24-ounce copper pineapple. The
$100 drink is sharable between two
or three people. Proceeds from the
margarita (after cost) will be donated
to Heart 2 Hart, a nonprofit serving
varieties include Cajun,
Venison, Chili, Cheese and
Le Poutine.
The restaurant-bar is
open daily, except on major
holidays, and offers free lot
parking. There may be a wait on
weekends. As the website states,
“We are a first-come, first-serve for
complete parties kind of joint.”
Meanwhile, Green Dot’s influ-
ence is growing. With onsite
assistance from Jacques Driscoll
and Chef Les, two Malaysian busi-
nessmen who approached them
recently opened Green Dot Stables
Kuala Lumpur.
Reportedly, Malaysians are crazy
for burgers.
Atomic Chicken opened its first location last
week in Clawson. The restaurant is a carryout-
only shop inside the former Faym-Us Chicken
and Seafood on Main Street and features several
different styles of chicken sandwiches and chick-
en and waffles dishes including tikka, buttermilk
fried and Japanese fried chicken.
homeless and needy communities in
Detroit. Once the pineapples run out,
the beverage may still be purchased
for $50.
Michael Schafer. 7-9 p.m. May 14. $45. 32
Lake Shore, Grosse Pointe Farms. (313)
881-7511.
• Whiskey Experience at Eastern
Market: Angel’s Envy, Dalmore, Elijah
Craig, Four Roses and Balvenie are some
of the brands represented during the
evening. Proceeds benefit the Luella M.
Harden Foundation, which raises money
for college scholarships and the Leukemia
Society. 6:30 p.m. May 20. $80-$100. Shed
5, 2934 Russell, Detroit. eventbrite.com.
MOTHER’S DAY OPTIONS
Here are some places nearby to take
mom for brunch on Sunday:
• Andiamo Bloomfield Township:
10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. $29.95 adults,
$14.95, ages 7-10. 6676 Telegraph,
Bloomfield Township. (248) 865-
9300.
• C.A.Y.A. Smokehouse Grill:
Buffet brunch includes eggs and
French toast, cold salads, carved
meats and desserts. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
$24.95, $19.95 11 and younger. 1403
S. Commerce, Wolverine Lake. (248)
438-6741.
• Community House: Breakfast
and lunch items include cinnamon
apple French toast, seared Atlantic
salmon, chicken Florentine and more.
11 a.m. and 1 p.m. $35, $12 ages
4-11. 380 S. Bates, Birmingham. (248)
644-5832.
Habib’s Cuisine
ARAB FOOD WALK
Yalla Eat! Stroll down Michigan Avenue in
Dearborn, visiting more than a dozen Arab-
American food establishments like Mocha
Cafe, Sheeba, Habib’s Cuisine and more.
The two-and-a-half hour tours include free
admission to the Arab American National
Museum, 1 p.m. May 7, 10 and 14. $20, $15
for museum members. Start at the museum,
13624 Michigan, Dearborn. (313) 582-2266.