arts & life out to eat Left: Kimchi fries. Center: The “Black Eagle” cocktail. Right: The Consuela with kimchi fries. Black Eagle Has Landed … At The Bosco Allie Jacobs | Special to the Jewish News C hef Emmele Herrold is full of ideas — especially when it comes to food. She is passion- ate about bringing her spunky per- sonality and creativity to the Ferndale restaurant scene. Ever since her start at One-Eyed Betty’s, Herrold has been sought after by a number of fellow restaurateurs. Most recently it was Jay Noonchester, owner of the Bosco Cafe and Lounge in Ferndale, who was eager to bring her into the mix. While the Bosco has a strong repu- tation as a hip lounge in the metro area, the cuisine has yet to steal the show. Looking to add some excite- ment to the menu, Noonchester called on Herrold, along with her business partner, Meghan Shaw, to do a full on takeover of the Bosco kitchen. Herrold and Shaw decided to not just adjust the menu, but create their own food-service brand. Despite its distinctive name, Black Eagle does not actually hail from anything in particular. The pair selected the title after shouting out random words to one another, and Black Eagle simply stuck. To distinguish Black Eagle as a sep- arate entity, the group calls it a “pop- up” restaurant. “Pop-ups” are a more recent phenomenon. The concept simply means that an up-and-coming 48 October 6 • 2016 food service takes over a pre-existing space, usually temporarily. Black Eagle differs from most pop- ups in that it is permanent, providing the sole source of food service at the Bosco. Now, visitors will be able to sample Black Eagle’s indulgent loaded fries, ginormous sandwiches, fresh salads and homemade Kool-Aid seven days a week. While the menu may sound sim- plistic, Herrold amplifies standard food items with plenty of multicultur- al influences. Craving Asian food, but Mexican also sounds appealing? Black Eagle delivers on both fronts. If drinks are a priority, the cock- tail conveniently named the Black Eagle is a solid first choice. This tall, purple-hued beverage is subtly sweet, muddled with fresh blackberries and Kool-Aid simple syrup. Once drinks have arrived, foodies will find it even easier to navigate the menu, which is brief, yet succinct. “Fries” is the first word to appear at the top, followed by five different loaded variations. While some patrons may imme- diately gravitate toward the poutine fries, Black Eagle’s curry and kimchi options are also difficult to pass up. The kimchi fries elicit an exciting jolt to the taste buds, highlighting the salty, sweet taste of kimchi, a Korean specialty of cabbage and spices. On top of the crisp fries rests plenty of succulent braised beef, cheese curds, gojuchang (Korean red pepper paste) and a savory sesame aioli. After demolishing the fries, the sandwiches are the next pleasing chal- lenge. Each features a hefty bun filled to the brim with veggies, sauces and add-ons. Just a warning — they’re nearly impossible to eat in a polite fashion. The Consuela is by far one of the most flavorful sandwiches on the menu. In between the bun, diners will find plenty of zesty chorizo (or alternatively, house-marinated tem- peh, a popular meat substitute), along with crumbled queso fresco, potato chunks, black bean “schmear,” cilantro chimichurri sauce, avocado cream and a generous sprinkling of Doritos. For lighter options, Black Eagle offers rotating market salads. Additional sides include the chick- pea salad, curry potato salad, roasted carrots with cilantro and cashews or a fragrant mango slaw. In addition to weekly variations of fresh greens, expect to see one-of-a- kind specials in the sandwiches and fries categories as well. Sept.12 marked opening day for the Black Eagle pop-up. Herrold and Shaw are pleased to call the quaint Bosco kitchen their new home, revel- ing in a successful beginning to their new venture. Despite Noonchester’s playful skepticism about Herrold coming on board at the Bosco as a result of her extensive resume, she smiles as she recalls fondly how she proved him wrong. While Herrold knows there’s a future possibility for Black Eagle to spread its wings, it’s no secret that Bosco’s outdoor patio and sleek interi- or couldn’t be a better spot to indulge in their festive fare this fall. * Black Eagle 22930 Woodward Ave. Ferndale (248) 541-8818 Opening hours: Sunday-Wednesday 11 a.m.-2 a.m.; Thursday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Follow on Instagram and Facebook @blackeagleferndale