Welcome to Dining in the D

Posted on April 15th, 2011

Join Chef Tom as takes you from the front door, into the dining rooms and into the kitchens of some of the Detroit area’s favorite restaurants. Meet the owners and find out what inspired them to entertain diners in the Motor City, find out about the secrets of the specialties of the house straight from the chefs, and discover the Detroit area one dish at a time.

Dining in the D airs on WTVS/Channel 56 on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. Check our site for information on the latest episodes, restaurant information and special events, and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Vivio’s – Episode 110 – Aug. 31, 2011

Posted on August 27th, 2011


Vivio’s
2460 Market St.
Detroit, MI 48207
313-393-1711
www.viviosbloodymary.com
Vivio’s on Facebook


View Larger Map

If fresh meat and produce are what bring people to Eastern Market, it’s Vivio’s that brings them together. It’s where truckers, lawyers, doctors and students rub elbows over specialties like Vivio’s pastrami burger, lobster BLT and mussels steamed in every way imaginable. And, of course, Chef Tom finds out what goes into its famed house drink -Vivio’s Bloody Mary.

Posted in Restaurants | Tagged as: , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Supino Pizzeria – Episode 110- Aug. 31, 2011

Posted on August 27th, 2011


Supino Pizzeria
2457 Russell Street
Detroit, MI
313-567-7879
www.supinopizza.com
Supino Pizzeria on Facebook


View Larger Map

Inspiration from the pizzas of David Mancini’s family’s hometown, Supino, Italy, is only part of the secret behind the new Detroit style pizza. Before leaving his career as a physical therapist, David spent seven years developing his legendary New York-style crust before hanging his shingle in Eastern Market. Chef Tom also spends time with David discussing some of the unconventional toppings that makes his pizzeria worthy of bypassing dozens of other pizza shops.

Menu

Posted in Restaurants | Tagged as: , , , | 1 Comment

Russell Street Deli – Episode 110 – Aug. 31, 2011

Posted on August 27th, 2011


Russell Street Deli
2465 Russell
Detroit, MI
313-567-2900
www.russellstreetdeli.com
Russell Street Deli on Facebook


View Larger Map

It’s only natural that owners and art students Ben Hall and Jason Murphy put an artistic spin on breakfast and lunch with locally-sourced ingredients from Calder’s Dairy, Avalon Bakery, Grown in Detroit, Brother Nature and tomatoes from Leamington, Ontario. Yet, what this duo calls “simple food” gets grandiose raves from people that come as far as Bay City on a regular basis to get their fix on favorites such as Rusell Street Deli’s Spring Salad, Corned Beef All the Way sandwich, and their ever-changing soup selection that gets thumbs-up from omnivores and vegetarians alike.

Menu

Posted in Restaurants | Tagged as: , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Sala Thai – Episode 110 – Aug. 31, 2011

Posted on August 27th, 2011


Sala Thai
3400 Russell St.
Detroit, MI
313-831-1302


View Larger Map

www.salathai.us
Sala Thai on Facebook

Sala Thai puts the fire back into an 1888 vintage fire station on the north end of Eastern Market with traditional Thai favorites. More than just Pad Thai, the Praditavanij family has been serving Thai food in the Detroit area long before it became mainstream, and, out of necessity, has been offering sushi in the downtown area. (Ever hear of a Bangkok Roll?) During Chef Tom’s visit, the owners let him loose in the kitchen as he gets back to his roots of having apprenticed in a Thai kitchen earlier in his career.

Posted in Restaurants | Tagged as: , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Oakland Community College Culinary Studies Institute – Episode 109 – Aug. 24, 2011

Posted on August 17th, 2011

Oakland Community College Culinary Studies Institute
27055 Orchard Lake Road
Farmington Hills, MI 48334
248-522-3700
www.oaklandcc.edu/culinary


View Larger Map

Oakland Community College is one of the Detroit area’s best-kept culinary secrets where chefs in training are graded by their chef instructors as well as the public at its two on-campus restaurants, Reflections Restaurant and Ridgewood Restaurant, as well as its on-campus bakery, Ridgewood Bakery. Its also the area’s biggest party school as CSI students hold special theme dinners, such as the Caribbean Cruise Night, where Chef Tom discovers how the students develop, prepare and serve a menu to impress their guests.

Photos by William Cowger

Posted in Restaurants | Tagged as: , , , | 3 Comments

Tallulah Wine Bar & Bistro – Episode 109 – Aug. 24, 2011

Posted on August 17th, 2011

Tallulah Wine Bar & Bistro
155 S. Bates
Birmingham, MI 48009
248-731-7066
www.tallulahwine.com
Tallulah Wine Bar & Bistro on Facebook
Tallulah Wine Bar & Bistro on Twitter


View Larger Map

Which comes first: good wine or good food? Both, according to Mindy Van Hellemont, sommelier and owner of Tallulah Wine Bar & Bistro in Birmingham. Chef Tom gets a behind the scenes look at the farm to table magic of Chef Kyle Grabowski as he creates favorite menu items such as sous vide hanger steak and Meyer lemon ricotta gnocchi. Chef Tom and Michael Schafer, AKA The Wine Counselor, also tap into Tallulah’s director of liquid operations, Antoine Przeskop, to find out which wine he picks to go with one of Tallulah’s menu items — and why.

Menu

Photos by Cyndi Senatore

Posted in Restaurants | Tagged as: , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Metropolitan Cafe – Episode 109 – Aug. 24, 2011

Posted on August 16th, 2011

The Metropolitan Cafe
52696 Van Dyke
Shelby Township, MI
586-991-6104
themetroshelby.com
The Metropolitan Cafe on Facebook
The Metropolitan Cafe on Twitter


View Larger Map

Downtown tastes meet the flavors of the farm at The Metropolican Cafe in Shelby Township. Chef Tom talks with owner Gary Barney about how his restaurant brings a sleek and stylish edge to the edges of suburban near-farm country. Chef Lexy Henslee shows off some how she takes very locally sourced foods to create some of the restaurant’s favorite menu items such as quinoa curry stir fry with sweet chili-glazed salmon and New York strip steak with house-made onion rings.

Menu

Posted in Restaurants | Tagged as: , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Giulio’s Cucina Italiana – Episode 108 – July 20, 2011

Posted on July 15th, 2011

Giulio’s Cucina Italiana
31735 Plymouth Road
Livonia, MI 48150
734-427-9500
www.giuliositalian.com
Giuliano’s Cucina Italiana on Facebook


View Larger Map

Handmade pasta, brick oven pizza, fresh-baked bread — fine Italian dining at its best for everyone, even those with celiac disease. Chef Tom teams up with Giuilano Cucina Italiana’s Executive Chef Tom Kaczmarek (AKA the Gluten-Free Guru) to talk about the special touches that go into its dishes and how locally-sourced and unexpected ingredients and the entertainment make this eatery a second-best destination to “the boot.” And since wine is a must with good Italian food, Michael Schafer (AKA The Wine Counselor) gives his recommendations on what to pour.

Menu

Photos by William Cowger

Posted in Restaurants | Tagged as: , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Royal Kubo – Episode 108 – July 20, 2011

Posted on July 15th, 2011

Royal Kubo
27 E. 14 Mile Rd.
Clawson, MI 48017
248-588-2300
http://iiseven.com/royalkubo
Royal Kubo on Facebook


View Larger Map

If the idea of Filipino food is hard to imagine, think of it as a melting pot of Spanish, American and Japanese flavors. OK, so it’s still hard to imagine, but Chef Tom takes the mystery out of tastes that are familiar to the Philippines such as pansit, garlic fried rice and lumpia Shanghai, and gets the low-down on one of the hottest karaoke joints this side of Manila.

Menu

Posted in Restaurants | Tagged as: , , , , , | 1 Comment

Bayou Grill – Episode 108 – July 20, 2011

Posted on July 15th, 2011

Bayou Grill
404 Main St
Belleville, MI 48111
734-697-2300
bayougrill.net


View Larger Map

It’s easy to mistake Lake Bellville for N’awlins at the Bayou Grill where owner and chef Brian Copsey has created a Deep South experience complete with muffaletta sandwiches, chicken atchafalya, jambalaya in a fun and festive atmosphere. Chef Tom gets a tour and gets down with a giant alligator.

Menu

Posted in Restaurants | Tagged as: , , , , , , , | 1 Comment