The Best Mac 'n Cheese in Metro Detroit

Slows Bar BQ mac 'n cheese. Photo courtesy of Wattyz.Since I moved back to Detroit over three years ago—I have been on a quest—a quest to find the best mac ‘n cheese in metro Detroit. Why this infatuation with a cheese and pasta dish? I’m not exactly sure where it started but I was disgusted by the offerings in the UK. Canned mac ‘n cheese, need I say more?

So, off I went questing. From Downtown to Greektown, Corktown to Clarkston, Ann Arbor to Royal Oak and all points in between.

As with any food that has a million variations, mac ‘n cheese preference is personal. I like baked mac ‘n cheese with a crispy, cheese topping. I enjoy stronger cheese flavors. The blue box might be the “cheesiest” but it’s also one of the most non-food like substances in existence.

Here are my picks for the top 5 mac ‘n cheese dishes in Detroit:

Slows Bar BQ – This one of the most talked about mac ‘n cheese dishes in the region. Creamy underneath with a nice browned cheese topping. I also love that if you order the entrée version you get to pick two side items to go with it. That’s a heck of a lot of comfort food!

Union Woodshop mac 'n cheese.

Vinsetta Garage/Clarkston Union/Union Woodshop – The self-proclaimed “The most macked mac ‘n cheese” features sharp cheddar and pinconning cheese with the crunchiest of crunchy crusts. The complete dish is fabulous but if I could just order the crispy topping, I would!

Zingerman’s Roadhouse – They have 6 different concoctions of mac ‘n cheese on their menu. Technically, I would classify the Pimento Bacon Macaroni as a pasta dish with cheese. Since that cheese is their housemade Southern pimento cheese it takes it to a whole new level. And, Bacon!

Pimento Bacon Macaroni from Zingerman's Roadhouse.

Town Tavern/Roadside B & G – I don’t always want lobster in my mac ‘n cheese but when I do, this is the place to go. This is a very rich dish, indeed.

Roast – This one makes the list for two reasons. 1. It’s $3 at happy hour. 2. They use goat cheese, which brings a different, tangy flavor.

Honorable mention: The Rattlesnake Club gets this nod for the mere fact that they dust the top with crushed Better Made BBQ Potato Chips.

I know this list won’t sit right with everyone; we all have our own tastes. Mac ‘n cheese is personal, people! But… if I were asked where to go in Detroit for the finest of comfort foods I would send people to these places.

Also of note, Rub Pub and Red Smoke just didn’t do it for me. I have yet to try macaroni and cheese at some of the other BBQ joints in the area, most notably Lockhart’s and Bad Brad’s.

What is your favorite mac ‘n cheese in metro Detroit?

Photo credit: Slows Bar BQ mac 'n cheese by Wattyz

Full Disclosure: My big, big boss (KC Crain) has a stake in Vinsetta Garage. These opinions are my own and I was smitten with the mac ‘n cheese from Clarkston Union/Union Woodshop before I was employed at my current job and before Vinsetta Garage existed.

Detroit Moxie's Weekend Roundup

Starship might have built the city on Rock and Roll but Detroit was built on Motown, cars and grit! This weekend in Detroit we have art, more art, old-timey baseball, Starship and more. Get out there and enjoy Detroit!

 1. Ann Arbor Art Fairs - The largest art fair in Michigan is now comprised of four art fairs, including the original, over 5 days. Take in all the art your heart can muster and bring your patience.  July 18—21.

2. Rockin' on the Riverfront (Facebook link) - We built this city on Rock and Roll! The GM Riverfront stage continues to rock out with Starship featuring Mickey Thomas in this free concert. July 20th.

3. Quake on the Lake - The hydroplane races continue on the lake with the APBA World Championships and entertainment from Mitch Ryder. July 20—22.

4. Figment Detroit - Belle Isle is once again home to this participatory art event that encourages visitors to partipate as artists and creators. July 21—22.

5. Greenfield Village Historic Baseball - The Greenfield Village Lah-De-Dahs Baseball Club play by the rules of 1867 and sport neckties in this gentlemanly game. Play ball! July 21—22.

Bonus: Cool Hand Luke

Double Bonus: Festa Italiana 2012 (Check out the cool promo video.)

Do you know of a great event going on in Metro Detroit this weekend? Add it to the comments and share it with us!

Detroit Moxie's Weekend Roundup

Did you know that the British weren’t officially kicked out of Detroit until July 11, 1796? Well, I didn’t until yesterday. Get your history on and read all about the evacuation of those bloody Brits, “Mad” General Anthony Wayne and Colonel Hamtramck.

In other news, there’s a frickin’ plethora of things to do in Detroit this weekend! If you can do everything on this list, I salute you. I might even buy you a drink.

 Weekend Roundup

1. Soiree on the Greenway - Rivière28's second offering of the summer takes place in the Dequindre Cut and features drinks, live painting by Street Culture Mash, music from Will Sessions and more. July 12th.

2. 2012 APBA Gold Cup Races - The hydroplane races take to the Detroit River this weekend where they'll reach speeds near 200 mph! Plus live music and a Navy FA-18 demonstration. Friday is free day! July 13—15.

3. Concert of Colors - Celebrate the 20th anniversary of Detroit's free diversity music festival! This year it spans three venues and has added a food truck meet-up. For more info, check out this great preview of the fest by Midwest Guest. July 12—15.

4. Art in the Park - Over 400 artists from around the country descend upon quaint downtown Plymouth for this annual event. If the Ann Arbor Art Fair seems too big and crazy for you, try Michigan's 2nd largest art fair on for size. July 13—15.

5. Ragtime Street Fair - Step back in time at Greenfield Village and be delighted by Ragtime music and dancing in the streets. July 14—15.

Bonus: Sip of Michigan

Double Bonus: The Wizard of Oz

Triple Bonus: Pig and Whiskey

Do you know of a great event going on in Metro Detroit this weekend? Add it to the comments and share it with us!

Photo credit

Detroit Moxie's Weekend Roundup

We hope that you all had a great Fourth of July, even with the extreme heat, rain, hail and other explosive weather courtesy of Mother Nature.

Weekend Roundup

1. 2012 American Polish Festival & Craft Show - Roll out the barrell and get your polka on! Music, dancing, crafts, Polish food (obviously) and a pierogi eating contest. July 6—8.

2. Civil War Days at Historic Fort Wayne - Experience the Civil War with live battles, cannons, bugles and muskets. Plus crafts, blacksmithing and vintage baseball games. July 7—8.

3. It's OK (Facebook link) - In case you haven't heard, there was a fire last week at the Imagination Station. This is a day to celebrate the houses with a BBQ & live music. July 7th.

4. Concert of Colors Tune-Up - Head down to New Center Park for a world music concert in preparation for the big event the following weekend. July 7th.

5. Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History - Enjoy "Free Family Second Sunday" and explore the largest African American museum. July 8th.

Bonus: Royal Oak Outdoor Art Fair

Double Bonus: Detroit Soup (Facebook link)

Do you know of a great event going on in Metro Detroit this weekend? Add it to the comments and share it with us!

Thunderdrome & memories of Derby Hill

All bundled up in full snowmobile suits with clip-on mittens and moon boots, we’d walk across Outer Drive with our sleds in tow to take on the mammoth mountain known as Derby Hill. Sometimes we’d slide down with the speed and grace of an Olympic bobsled team, other times we’d tumble off of our sleigh into the thick, but soft, snow.

My father grew up on Caldwell in Detroit—just south of Outer Drive and west of Mound Road—in the shadows of Derby Hill. Now, it’s more known by the name Dorais Park but I never once heard it called that as a child and my dad gave me a puzzled look when I tried to explain that was the actual name of the park. It was always Derby Hill.

You feel kind of silly telling your dad the name of “his” park. The park where he and his brothers played pond hockey, the park that was a few hundred feet from their front door.

I got the same puzzled look, and a bonus furrowed brow, when I asked him about the Dorais Velodrome track that The Mower Gang dug up in 2010. Granted, the velodrome wasn’t completed until the late 60s and my dad had left his childhood home and was married with one child by that time.

But…my grandparents lived in that same home until they died and this is where my memories stem from. Christmases, birthdays, city chicken, Pfeiffer beer, playing Euchre for money and walks to Derby Hill.

Back in the real olden days, Detroit’s annual soapbox derby took place on this sledding hill—hence the name—Derby Hill. Soapbox derbies AND an unknown, oval and banked bicycle track living side-by-side in the same park? This is one magical urban oasis!

Once, it was home to the bicycling world when the U.S. National Track Championships happened here.

The Mower Gang—a group of good-hearted Samaritans—descend upon abandon parks and playgrounds of Detroit and clean them up. They mow. They weed whack. As mentioned, they found the derelict bike track and brought it back to life. What do you do with a velodrome in the city of Detroit?

Welcome to the Thunderdrome!

Thunderdrome is a full day of racing and pretty much anything on two wheels is fair game. From mountain bikes and fixies to mopeds, scooters and even go karts—they round the banked track with childhood wonder and NASCAR bravado until the checkered flag waves.

As we pulled onto Outer Drive, we noticed it was packed with parked cars. The side streets—including Caldwell—were lined too. The neighborhood and park doesn’t see this kind of action often. Bikes—of all varieties—were plenty, there was food, drink, general merriment and Fowling. What’s Fowling? It’s a combination of football and bowling, of course.

The park looked like a prairie, and I don’t mean that in the ruins-of-Detroit-feral-houses kind of way. Looking at Derby Hill from the track, it was small and docile and pretty. It wasn’t the mammoth mountain of my childhood. The Mower Gang has planted a community garden in a corner of the infield of the velodrome and Greening of Detroit has brought in new trees near the back of the park. It was the natural beauty that drew me in, though. The hill, the trees and some overgrown grass.

To me, Thunderdrome wasn’t just about racing. It was about community. It was about doing. It was about making a difference.

After watching a few races with the sun beating down on our shoulders, we headed back to our car. Before leaving the neighborhood, we did a quick drive-by of my dad’s old house.

Later that evening he asked, “Is the house still there?”

Yep, dad, it’s still there.