Stray Notes on Detroit food
Happy to hear some Detroit shoutouts and mentions on latest ep. As a local, a few stray notes:
- a coney with hamburger meat in the bun is called a Loose Coney and it’s a vulgar food for the drunk and depraved. Hits the spot every time.
- Jet’s is not Buddy’s pizza rival, that would be Loui’s in Hazel Park. Loui split from the founding of Buddy’s and started his own shop decades ago and while Buddy’s has expanded greatly over the last 10 years, Loui’s is a stand alone operation. Other notable contenders include Michigan & Trumbull, Grandma Bob’s and Green Lantern. I don’t think anyone really thinks of Jets as a leading with Detroit style pizza - though their deep dish is kinda Detroit style on paper.
- The auto plant pan thing re: pizza is accurate but misunderstood. The pans that inspired Detroit style pizza weren’t, like, auto parts but rather they were used by line workers during assembly. For example, say your station on the line required you to install four screws, two bolts and a rod. Your station would have those items pre-portioned into individual pans for each vehicle. Grab a pan, install, put the pan in the empty stack, grab another pan with four screws, two bolts and a rod and install on the next vehicle. You’d be surprised how often this system is still used today. American manufacturing!
- Pegasus Taverna kinda sucks - tho I’m glad the boys had a good time. It’s a legacy place in Detroit’s Greektown and while I respect its history and importance, there’s a lot better Greek food in town. And yes, Greek immigrants largely started the Coney Island diner thing we still have today. FWIW, I think Greek Islands in Birmingham is pretty much the best coney in the area with mostly authentic greek food along side diner favorites.
Detroit has an amazing food scene with a rich history of truly innovative food and incredible immigrant and ethnic foods from across the world and at all budget levels. I hope some friends here will visit to give it a try soon!