Cork Wine Pub

Cork Restaurant and Wine Pub is located inside the small Metro Detroit city of Pleasant Ridge, Michigan. The space features over 100 wines in house and a thoughtful menu of small plates and one of a kind entrees put together by chef James A. Gundy.

Cork is a wine lover's dream, they offer a one of a kind unique selection that you cannot find anywhere else. The staff are well versed in the spirits and they are quick to offer up recommendations for the wine impaired like myself. The kitchen serves up a mix of upscale and unique dishes, like marinated beef tenderloin with a squash puree, Cajun style scallops with crayfish  and grilled duck breast blended with lower brow items with a swanky twist. This includes truffle Parmesan tater tots, braised beef tacos with a blue cheese creme friache, and the cork burger. They also have some unique vegetarian choices, like a roasted cashew appetizer, fried brussel sprouts, house made pumpkin ravioli, and a succotash of quinoa, corn edamame, and leak in a spicy tomato sauce. They have created something unique to please and delight everyone's taste buds. 

The large brick space features a bar, lounge and restaurant seating as well as a patio during the warmer months. They are open from 4 p.m. - 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Sundays for brunch. On Tuesday they have a wine tasting at from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. and on Mondays and Tuesdays they have a happy hour from 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. You can see a full list of upcoming events here. 

Cork is a great place to kick back and enjoy yourself with some good wine and great food!

~S

Yemans St. Hosts a Vegetarian Pop-Up This Weekend

The new rage in the world of food is pop-ups. No, not popovers, the eggy bread like rolls that are super disappointing because they are so hollow. Pop-ups! Foodies are no longer satisfied going to restaurants and ordering off the menu. Instead they want a one night only menu, made just for them, that no one else will ever be able to try again.

By now, you've probably heard of the popular pop-up restaurant Revolver in Hamtramck. Well, there is a newer pop-up in Hamtramck that you may not have heard about, it's called Yemans St. Coincidentally, the reason this place came to our attention is the same reason we wrote about Revolver before, because Chef Jay Gundy from Cork Wine Pub is going to be cooking there! For one night only, this Friday, September 25th, Chef Gundy and his crew will be at Yemans St. for dinner, and we think it's a dinner that some of our friends will be interested in. It is a 5 course vegetarian meal. The menu includes:

1st Course: White Wine Braised Artichokes, Quinoa and Leek Compote, Avocado Mousse, Red Bell Pepper, Pickled Fresno Chili

2nd Course: Sweet Corn and Fire Roasted Poblano Soup, Banana Salsa, Roasted Pumpkin Seeds, Paprika Oil

3rd Course: Butternut Squash Ravioli, Toasted Hazelnuts, Sage, Whipped Goat Cheese, Sun Dried Cherry Compote

4th Course: Madeira Creamed Wild Mushrooms, Brioche Toast, Truffle Vinaigrette, Arugula Tellicherry Peppercorn Pesto, Salt Cured Egg Yolk

5th Course: Spiced Pumpkin Cake, Frozen Sweet Potato Souffle, Vanilla Bourbon Anglaise, Candied Walnuts

We're not even vegetarians and this sounds delicious! This is also a great opportunity to go to a pop-up if you're anything like me and are not too adventurous when it comes to food, especially meat. It seems like a lot of these chefs don't tend to feature standards like chicken or steak on their menu, instead they serve duck, fish, or pieces of animals that I wouldn't really consider meat. Well, you definitely won't have to worry about that on this menu! No meat, or sort of meat, just a delicious vegetarian meal.

If you would like to join Chef Jay Gundy for dinner at Yemans St. you must purchase tickets in advance. Tickets for the 5 course meal are $55 and can be purchased in advance here. Dinner starts at 7 p.m. and patrons are asked to arrive 15-30 minutes prior. 

Yemans St. is located at 2995 Yemans St. in Detroit. For more information on this event and upcoming events (including brunches!), give them a "like" them on Facebook here or head over to YemansStreet.com. 

~C

Chef Jay Gundy Takes You Around the World at Revolver!

There's a restaurant in Hamtramck called Revolver. The name explains the concept behind the business. It is a restaurant that has a revolving menu brought to you by revolving chefs. Typically the restaurant brings in an esteemed chef every week and along with them comes a special menu that they have come up with just for this engagement. The restaurant is typically only open on Fridays and Saturdays and you have to buy tickets to dine there.

We used one key word in that last paragraph a couple of times; typically. The reason we are pointing that out is because yes, typically there is a different chef every week and typically Revolver is only open on Friday on Saturday. However, starting this weekend they are hosting the popular Metro Detroit Chef, Jay Gundy. Instead of having his dinner on Friday and Saturday, his will be on Sunday. And instead of having him only take over Revolver for one weekend, he will be there the next several Sundays!

You may know Chef Jay Gundy from Cork in Pleasant Ridge, but he has also worked at a wide array of restaurants throughout the Metro Detroit area over the years. You can read his bio here. For his Revolver dinner Chef Gundy will be taking you "Around the World in 6 Courses". The menu includes: "(first) Roasted Carrots with carrot puree, carrot top chimichurri, sunflower seeds, and pickled fresno chilies/ (next) Green Eggs and Ham Salad with pea and wasabi deviled eggs, bacon tomato frisée, and tarragon dijon vinaigrette/ (also) Grilled Jerk Chicken with roasted tomato sauce,
coconut rice cake, plantain salsa, toasted coconut/ (and) BBQ'd Faroe Island Salmon with cheddar grits, pickled okra, and poblano corn cream/ (then) Wuxi Pork Belly with miso roasted fingerling potatoes, kimchi, garlic peanuts, and braising reduction/ (finally) Butterscotch Custard with chocolate, brûléed banana, and chocolate cookie crumble". Tickets for this dinner are $60 per person and can be purchased online here.

Chef Jay Gundy will be at Revolver on Sunday, March 8th, 15th and 22nd, but unfortunately all of those dates are already sold out. However, Revolver has just added a fourth date, Sunday, March 29th. Tickets have not gone on sale yet for this evening, so you still have a chance! Tickets for the 29th will go on sale this Sunday, March 8th! Keep an eye on Revolver's Facebook page here to find out what time tickets will be up for grabs.

Seating for Chef Gundy's dinner will begin at 7 p.m. Revolver is located at 9737 Joseph Campau in Hamtramck. For more information on Revolver and the idea behind it, click here.

~C