Detroit is a symbol of America and it’s fall from economic grace is oft-cited as a harbinger of America’s own downward spiral and lack of vision for the future. Or at least that’s been the national narrative.
The people of Detroit called bullshit on that notion and started rebuilding their city after everyone else gave up on them. Suddenly urban farms were being tilled into empty lots, pop up restaurants started slinging plates from plywood shelters, and the city started to take on a whole new identity. The world has quickly taken note — because if there’s one thing we all love it’s a great comeback story.
Now, Detroit has been getting press as one of the best food cities in North America. That’s right, not just the U.S.A., all of North America. National Geographic just put the city on its list of the “Unexpected Cities for the Food Lover” — the only spot it featured on our continent.
This came on the heels of the New York Times listing Detroit at number nine on its list of “52 Place to Go in 2017.”
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The cherry on top of the D-Town love came when Anthony Bourdain announced that he’s planning to focus a large amount of his time on the city in the near future. Bourdain exclaimed, “I love going to Detroit. I’m hoping to do another project there sometime soon. I can’t really talk about it — but a pretty major big one.” There’s no other word on the secret project yet… other than it’ll be something that will “encompass more than an hour of television.”
We thought we’d take a look at what Bourdain had to say about the place after he made his last show there. So we’ve created a handy guide to the some hot spots in Corktown, Hamtramck, Midtown, Dearborn, The Belt — with help from National Geographic and Bourdain himself.
Hopefully it’ll entice you to jump on a cheap domestic flight this year and help Detroit keep fighting back.
SLOWS BAR BQ
“Detroit didn’t (or couldn’t ) go on the usual idiot building spree, tearing down old buildings and paving over city center as “pedestrian malls,” ruining the city’s character and stripping its center.” – Bourdain
BROOKLYN STREET LOCAL
“Detroit, for many Americans, is an abstraction — truly, if incredibly, a part unknown.” Bourdain
DIME STORE
“I hope, that even among ruins, audiences will see what I see: an extraordinarily beautiful city — unlike any other in America — still.” – Bourdain
D-TOWN FARMS
“I love Detroit. I love Detroiters. You’ve got to have a sense of humor to live in a city so relentlessly ****ed.” – Bourdain
AL AMEER
“Detroit isn’t just a national treasure. It IS America.” – Bourdain
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GUNS & BUTTER
“Detroit looks like nowhere else. Detroit looks like mother****in’ Detroit. As it should.” – Bourdain
DULY’S PLACE
“Oh. And before I forget. Every time I visit Detroit, somebody asks me if I’ve had a good Coney yet.” – Bourdain
More love for Detroit’s food and culture:
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https://www.instagram.com/p/BPagp-Vg7ww/
