Cravings: July 2015

Their stylish menus are enticing enough to attract a loyal clientele of discriminating diners, but no matter how expert they are, restaurant people like to take a break from their own kitchens for a taste of someone else’s cooking.
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Jai-Lee Dearing, proprietor of Rockefellers Oyster Bar in Grosse Pointe Park, really loves oysters. One of his all-time favorite restaurants is Acme Oyster Bar in New Orleans, where his dish of choice is grilled oysters. Closer to home, he likes “The Turkey Grill on Woodward near Midtown,” he says. “The Cajun Turkey bites are awesome.” Another local spot on his list is Louisiana Creole Gumbo on Gratiot Avenue near Eastern Market. “The seafood gumbo is amazing,” he says. When it’s time for a steak, Dearing heads for Mario’s on Second Avenue in Midtown, where he orders the porterhouse for two.

 

There’s no doubt Scott Moloney is a busy man, with two new restaurants to add to his original Treat Dreams in Ferndale: Treat Dreams Midtown and Woodpile BBQ Shack in Clawson. Nonetheless he does get out. “One of my stops is at the El Guapo food truck. My favorite offering there is the ‘Hello Mr. Hand’ taco, with pork belly and pineapple salsa,” he says. “When I’m craving pizza, my go-to spots are Supino’s (just discovered the Quattro Formaggio) or if I’m at a food truck rally, then I search out Rollin Stone Wood Fired Pizza.” He’s a fan of chef Matt Baldridge’s Dinner Club pop-ups, and “For my last meal, I’ve already got the chicken shawarma (with extra garlic sauce) from Anita’s Kitchen penciled in,” he adds.