The Detroit Coney Island wars are heating up and it seems everyone wants in on the action. In the last two weeks two networks have been in town filming at Lafayette Coney Island and American Coney Island.
I was already bummed I missed the taping for the Travel Channel's “Food Wars.” Then I got a message about another filming for “Food Feud,” which will air on Food Network, starring Iron Chef and Roast proprietor Michael Symon. Sadly, I was busy on Friday and wasn’t going to be able to make that taping either. Double bummer.
And then fate stepped in. On Thursday my husband and I went to Roast for their amazing Cocktail Hour menu. Michael Symon was there doing a photo shoot and some video. I wasn’t prepared for what happened next.
Symon got behind the bar and asked if anyone in the crowd didn’t want to be filmed. He then told us that in about 15 minutes coney dogs from American and Lafayette Coney Islands would be delivered and we were all going to do a blind taste test. On film.
We had just cashed out after stuffing our faces with Roasts’ awesome burger, mac n’ cheese, fries, and stuffed peppers. But who can say no to free coney’s? We ordered another beer and made ourselves comfortable.
Once the dogs arrived, one of each was given to everyone. The dogs simply had a red or blue toothpick stuck on them to denote which establishment they came from. Symon went around with the camera crew and filmed each patron eating his or her coney. He asked if you were loyal to either American or Lafayette and then you blindly picked the better coney.
Unfortunately, when it was our turn to be filmed a few hipsters slid in front of us and took away our limelight. The husband & I both choose blue. The blue dogs were from Lafayette Coney Island. As an avid supporter of Lafayette I would have been beyond embarrassed if I picked the wrong dog.
At the end Symon declared that only two people (that were filmed) choose the coney establishment that they are loyal to and maybe we should all think twice about blindly or emotionally following either brand.
Michael Symon was charming and engaging. After meeting him, I’m now an even bigger fan of Roast, if that’s possible. I can’t wait to tune into “Food Feud” and see the Detroit Coney Island Wars when it airs.
By the way, there is a Roast Coney Dog on the bar menu with pulled pork, jalapeños, and cheddar. At $9, it’s a bit more expensive than American or Lafayette. I haven’t tried it yet but will do so on my next visit.
Here’s a sneak peek of some footage I shot on my iPhone. Strangely, I had my fancy camera that shoots great video and my flip with me but the iPhone wasn’t as obtrusive.
Yep, that was my husbands voice with the British accent asking Michael Symon about his version of the coney dog.