Imagine a kinder, gentler Thanksgiving. No number-taking in the meat
department. No shopping-cart bullies lording over the cheese cooler. No
fist-fighting other pie lovers for the last pumpkin filling on the
shelf. This year, take back Thanksgiving and vow to have fun while you
shop. Detroit’s Eastern Market has everything you need to do up your
holiday right.
Pre-Shopping Warm-up
The first rule
of Eastern Market: Never shop on an empty stomach. If the line is too
long at Russell Street for some sit-down, pre-shopping sustenance, grab
a coffee to go and then pop next door to Flat Planet Pizza for some
homemade beignets and tarts. Not only will your stomach thank you, the
sugar intake from just a couple of these tiny pastries is just the kick
in the pants you’ll need to tackle Turkey Day Eastern Market style.
Item 1: Poultry
Now,
on to the first item on your list: Turkey. Chug the rest of your coffee
and make a beeline for Capital Poultry on Gratiot. These folks assure
that you’ll have absolutely no trouble finding a live bird between 13
and 25 lbs up ‘til two days before Thanksgiving. And if it’s fresh
chickens you’re after, well, they’ve got a bunch of those, too. Just
beware that this store is not for lightweights. In order to get your
fresh feast, there’s that little matter of how to get that gorgeous
bird of your dreams to go night-night. Well, fear not. Capital’s
totally got your back on that one.
And while you’re there, be sure to say “Hi” to the Clyde the rooster: He’s all the rage with the ladies.
Item 2: Beef
What’s
toasty warm on a cold day and has cuts of meat that could double as
small homes? Well, Gratiot Central Market, of course. So if the next
item on your list reads “red meat,” pop in to this meat-lover’s
paradise on Gratiot and take a look around.
Gratiot Central
Market offers customers 10 stands of fresh meats, including steak, ham,
ribs, and even Kosher corned beef and Amish Chicken. And if you can’t
find what you’re looking for, flag down owner of the market, Donald
Ross. Not only will you get a market history lesson, he’ll point you to
where you need to be to check item number deux off your list.
Item 3: Vino
Check
your watch. Check your list. Is it time for booze yet? Yes, you say?
Well, stroll on over to the Cost Plus Wine at 2448 Market St., right
next to the market, and meet Tim McCarthy and his little wine shop that
could.
McCarthy (of County Cork, thank you very much), has
Thanksgiving adult beverage selection down to a science. His top choice
for wine is a white with a tinge of sweetness like a Vouvray, which he
says does well to combat the slow drying out of the turkey during the
course of dinner. He also suggests a light-bodied, fruity red like
Beaujolais Nouveau or even a German Spatlese Riesling.
For after dinner, Tim suggests a nice Portuguese Tawny Port, to go along with blue cheese, baguettes and fresh fruit.
If
you’re looking for another wine imbibe at your table, well, Tim will
give you his honest opinion, and even if you’re not Irish, probably a
couple of hugs, too.
Item 4: Fromage
Next
item up on your list: Cheese? Step outside, turn right and go you’re
right in front of R. Hirt Jr. Co. At this point, your pre-game snack
will be wearing off and it’ll be just about time to revive with a
couple slices from Hirt’s severely kick-ass cheese selection.
Hirt’s
owner, David DeVries, will let you sample almost any cheese he’s got
before you buy it. For Thanksgiving, he suggests a mature Scottish
cheddar for the table, something like McLelland's. He’s been schooled,
of course, by next-door neighbor McCarthy, who preaches that the cheese
should never overpower the taste of wine. So rest assured, DeVries’
offering is the perfect choice for all the cheeseheads at your table.
But
remember, Hirt’s is no place to lollygag around. It’s a finely-oiled
machine of a shop. Order. Wrap. Pay. So to all you cheese novices out
there: Fake it until you make it or risk throwing off the whole magical
chi at Hirt’s.
Items 5-6: Spices and Coffee
Brush
the cheese crumbs off your list and check the next item: spice,
perhaps? A few doors down from Russell Street Deli is Rafal Spice Co.,
potentially the best smelling four walls on the planet.
Whether
you’re doing traditional Thanksgiving or something more eclectic, there
is no possible way Rafal could not have the spice you need. Grab from
jars of olive leaves, sassafras, saffron and turkey favorites like
parsley, sage, rosemary, and er … um … thyme.
And get this.
Rafal also carries Great Lakes brand Fair Trade coffee beans. So, with
a nice Holiday Blend coming in at a mere $10.49 a pound, your guests
will thank you for the great cuppa, and for the politically correct
blendage.
Items 7-8: Fruits and Veggies
The
main stalls at Eastern Market are no joke and on a lively Saturday,
appearing more like a Turkish bazaar than outdoor market. Vendors and
their veggies compete for your attention at every corner, but in true
Detroit fashion, you get much, much more than just the freshest produce
around.
Take, for instance, the chestnut growers from Saginaw.
Hawking their Michigan-grown yummies, they refuse to have their
chestnuts ignored. Expect: a lecture on how to properly peel chestnuts,
the ingredients for Chestnut Apple Stuffing and enough chestnuts
roasting to rival a Bing Crosby get-together.
Also out to
entertain customers is Ridley Orchards with their fine apple selection
and spiced mulled cider. Stop by, sample some Michigan apple cider and
get advice from Donald Ridley himself about the best apples to use for
your pie.
Item 9-10: Bread and Sweets
Apparently,
there’s just those two items left on your list: bread and dessert. In
Eastern Market, there’s only one spot to get your baked goods on and
give yourself a little treat for having just shopped your rear off:
Milano’s Bakery.
Located on the corner of Russell and Mack,
Milano’s is just the perfect place to pick up the pumpkin or sweet
potato pie for your holiday soiree. While there, you can also pick up
your bread supply for the big day. Milano’s suggests a nice
pumpernickel for your meal, but also gives props to old standards,
French and Italian.
But, no need to commit so readily to just
one dessert choice. It’s probably a good idea to sample the blueberry
English pies, cupcakes and sprinkle cookies before you make your final
decisions. Seriously, your guests are relying on you to satisfy their
sweet teeth. So, don't fumble this one. You’re in the home stretch now.
3 … 2 …1 …
Happy Thanksgiving!
For more information, go to:
http://www.easternmarket.org
http://www.rafalspicecompany.com/
all photos copyright Dave Krieger
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