I bet you think this post is about tomatoes. Anne already did such a lovely job with that topic that I’ll just flash you some tomato confit and dash off some quick notes to let you know what I’ve noticed going on in the Ann Arbor Food World these days.
New Good Local News
Looking to satisfy a craving for local food, prepared by talented local chefs, and rub elbows with other local foodies? The HomeGrown Festival is this Saturday from from 11am-4pm at Community High in Kerrytown. In addition to $2 “tastes of Ann Arbor” (including “Watermelon Soup, Spinach and Goat Cheese Pizza, Slow Roasted Pork, Michigan Sweet Corn Tamales, real BBQ Chicken Wings and PawPaw Gelato,” as the Farmer’s Marketer puts it) there is some free entertainment on offer as well. You know you’ll be at the farmer’s market already, and the festival is just across the street. What do you have to lose? Exactly. Read more about it on The Farmer’s Marketer.
Or perhaps you need a taste of your news served up with some talking-over-the-fence flavor? You can get your fill at The Ann Arbor Chronicle, a community-focused news website that just launched and includes an A2 Food category, about which I am enthusiastic. From A2C, I learned about good barbecue that’s available on football game days in the Morgan & York parking lot, which I’m dying to check out. Also, that the Cupcake Station opens next week (9/19), and will be handing out 500(!) free(!) cupcakes. Oh, yeah. Thanks, A2C!
Maria tells me that there is a farm cart with fresh produce at the gas station on the west corner of Packard and Stadium. Alli reports another farm stand a little further down Packard towards Ypsi, at the corner of Packard and Boston, between Hewitt and Golfside.
And the Observer reports that a fellow is selling homemade bread and poetry on Washington St., near the YMCA. The bread is making him some bread. The poetry? Not so much.
Old Not-Good Local News
Everyday Cook has closed. For real this time. And we’re sad. Read all about it on the Everyday Wines blog. We are thanking our lucky stars that Everyday Wines is still open. We’re awaiting news about what the erstwhile chefs are up to these days. Word has it that Aaron is cooking up some fine lunches at Cafe Japon on Liberty St., but we haven’t stopped by yet to try them. We do love their baguettes.
La Zamaan has closed. G3 reader Jeff mentioned it awhile back in the comments to our review of the restaurant. We’re also sad about this.
Weekly News, Good and Local
Tonight, and every Thursday night, is complimentary appetizers and music in the wine bar at eve-the restaurant from 9:30-11pm. It’s been going on for some time, but if you haven’t checked it out, I heartily recommend it. Our friend Forest will be spinning some records. I’m going tonight, and I hope to see you, too.
Just News (not sure yet whether it’s good or bad)
Chipotle is going in on State St., near the Theater.
On Main Street, The Black Pearl and The Melting Pot have seemed poised to open . . . but when?
Do you have any local food news you’d like us to report? Drop us a line at gastronomical3@gmail.com.
In the category of credit-where-credit-is-due I would put the fact that the bit in The Chronicle on the barbecue comes straight from Chowhound: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/555200.
The item is a part of the New Media Watch section, in which we give brief teases to longer pieces elsewhere online.
The cupcake story, though, that’s all ours — we’ve got cupcakes covered … preferably with thick, sugary, feel-the-grit-between-your-teeth white icing on top of chocolate cake-lets.
That eve event sounds cool…that would be a nice ladies’ food blogger event
(I hope that you’all can make one of those! I’d love to meet you!! 
)
Please also consider coming to the Project Grow Harvest Hootenanny “afterglow” on Saturday. It will be at the Zingermans Roadhouse from 4pm-9pm, and tickets are $18. Food will be prepared by ZR’s very own Chef Alex and includes a stuffed veggie bar, grilled salad (!) bar, salsa bar, olive oil and bread and pesto bar. I ordered the beer and wine, so you know there will be plenty to drink
(cash bar)
I hope it’s okay that I pimped this event, G3. Thanks.
Thanks, HD. Keep the cupcake- and Chowhound coverage coming.
Thanks for mentioning the Project Grow Harvest Hootenanny, Patti. Pimp away. I’m sure we’ll meet up soon.
Black Pearl is opening Thursday – s’what I heard from the exec chef’s father.