Food News: Openings, Closings, Menu Takeovers, and More

2018 is off to an exciting start for metro Detroit’s dining scene
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Photograph Courtesy of Voyager

Menu Takeovers and Events:

Oyster bar and seafood hot spot Voyager will bring the beach to Ferndale on Jan. 30. For one night only, Chefs Justin Tootla and Jennifer Jackson will create dishes inspired by the South Pacific to pair with tropical cocktails in partnership with Rhum JM and Rhum Clement. Menu selections include Walnut Shrimp, Sweet & Sour Crab, Dry Chili Chicken, and Chongqing Fish. 600 Vester Ave., Ferndale, 248-658-4999; voyagerferndale.com

The Apparatus Room will be filled with some of the Midwest’s best chefs next month as executive chef Thomas Lents hosts the James Beard Foundation’s Celebrity Chef Tour Dinner on Feb. 28. The evening will feature a five course dinner prepared by Michelin-starred chefs, James Beard Award semifinalists, and some of Detroit’s best chefs. The lineup includes Chef Nick Dostal of Sixteen, Ryan McCaskey of Acadia, and Noah Sandoval of Oriole, all based out of Chicago. Local chefs including Doug Hewitt of Chartreuse, Andy Hollyday of Selden Standard, James Rigato of Mabel Gray, and Anthony Lombardo of the highly anticipated SheWolf Pastificio & Bar. James Beard Foundation award winner Jimmy Schmidt of Foodshed in Detroit will also be in attendance. The Foundation Hotel, 250 W. Larned St., Detroit; 313-800-5600; jamesbeard.org/events/detroit

Chef Craig Lieckfelt will return to Frame in Hazel Park in February with his Felt Like soup company. For every bowl of soup sold, Felt Like will provide a bowl of soup for someone in need. Each weekend in the month, Chef Lieckfelt will prepare a different menu centered around a classic soup and will collaborate with a guest bartender on beverage pairings. The first weekend will feature Yani Frye of Bad Luck Bar in Detroit. 23839 John R Rd., Hazel Park; framehazelpark.com

Hazel Park’s Mabel Gray has announced that they are going vegan — for one week. From March 6-10, Chef James Rigato will feature an eight course, vegan-friendly tasting menu with optional drink parings. While still a few months off, the restaurant is already taking reservations for the event. 23825 John R. Rd., Hazel Park; 248-398-4300; mabelgraykitchen.com

National Recognition:

The Beer Connoisseur has named two Michigan brews as some of 2017’s top beers. Atwater Brewing Company’s Better Life Choices IPA and New Holland Brewing’s Dragon’s Milk Reserve Triple Mashed were among the 100 beers named in the list. All brews were judged on five categories: aroma, appearance, flavor, mouthfeel, and overall impression.

Openings/Announcements:

A year after bidding farewell to the rooftop restaurant Coach Insignia, the GM RenCen has found a “world-class” restaurant to fill its 71st and 72nd floors. Set to open in fall 2018, the new, unnamed occupant will be headed by James Beard Award-winning Chef Shawn McClain. Founder of the McClain Camarota Hospitality group, the chef currently operates three restaurants in Las Vegas. 100 Renaissance Center, Detroit; gmrencen.com

Wine bar and restaurant Vinotecca will reopen in Birmingham on Jan. 26. Similar to its sister restaurant Vinology in Ann Arbor, the rebooted location will feature an extensive, rotating wine list, as well as a menu featuring world cuisine, which will be designed to create both classic and modern wine pairings. In homage to its predecessor, The Bird and The Bread, Vinotecca will continue to feature live entertainment in the adjoining ELM Room. 210 S. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham; 248-203-6600

Shuttering:

Eastern Market’s Antietam will close its doors at end of March. After a little over three years in business, owner Gregory Holm announced the French-inspired restaurant’s closure in a Facebook post last Friday. Dinner will continue to be served until March 31.1428 Gratiot Ave., Detroit; 313-782-4378; antietamdetroit.com