Michigan Has a New Favorite Burger
Summer is in full swing, and with July Fourth coming up, chances are you going to see – and eat – some burgers in the next few weeks. I mean,…
A juicy burger
Summer is in full swing, and with July Fourth coming up, chances are you going to see - and eat - some burgers in the next few weeks. I mean, burgers are really a year-round food, but cooking up burgers on the grill makes for a great summer thing to do. This is even coming from a vegetarian, because I have to say that veggie burgers have gotten a lot better over the years. They're always a favorite for me during the summer months.
It appears there's a new burger favorite in Michigan. What's more, that burger has a Caribbean flavor, making it very original. My mouth is watering just thinking about a Caribbean-flavored delight.
Last weekend, the 2022 Burger Battle in Eastern Market took place. People crowded the venue, waiting in long lines to try burgers from all over the city for the annual Burger Battle, which is run by Dine, Drink, Detroit. This was the firs time the battle was back following a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. A total of 11 chefs and restaurants were on hand to feed about 2,000 attendees. That's a lot of burgers!
So, who came out on top? The winner was chef Max Hardy and his Detroit restaurant Coop Caribbean Fusion. The burger offered a blend of beef short rib and brisket, as well as a topping of Havarti cheese. Hardy, who also owns Jed's Detroit, picked up the $1,000 top prize and a trophy to display in his restaurant. That's not to mention bragging rights.
Another Detroit-area burger joint was recently crowned the best burger in Michigan by Reader's Digest. That's Miller's Bar in Dearborn, with the publication calling it a burger "with a special blend of meats and topped with a thick slice of Velveeta cheese, burgers here are served 'commando style' on wax paper with a side of pickles and white onions." That sounds delicious, too. Happy burger days.
It's spring, and today it actually feels like it across much of Michigan. Of course, this is Michigan, which means at any given moment we could be graced with snow and ice, even mid-spring. But, right now, warm weather and ice cream are on the mind.
I simply love ice cream. It's probably my favorite food. The more chocolaty and decadent and cookie dough-laced, the better. Here in Michigan, we have an array of incredible ice cream shops, some that are open seasonally and others year-round. There's lots of ice cream to go around, whether you prefer soft-serve (not for me) or regular.
Pure Michigan has put together a list of the best ice cream shops in Michigan. If anybody knows their Mitten ice cream, it's Pure Michigan, since they handle all the touristy stuff around the state. Read on for the full list. The Pure Michigan crew was able to hit most areas of the state, including the U.P, so there are a broad range of ice cream shops on the list. I actually hope to hit all of them at some point, but that might be too unrealistic a goal!
I actually added my own picks to make this list 20, since some of the Pure Michigan picks have sadly closed. My main pick was the MSU Dairy Store on the campus of Michigan State University. If you're ever in East Lansing, it's really something you have to experience. They make all of their own ice cream, and since MSU is an agricultural college, you know it's some of the best-tasting stuff around. I also included Quality Dairy, which is known for its fantastic ice cream around mid-Michigan. If you have a favorite ice cream spot that was left out, reach out to me on social media and let me know.
20 Best Michigan Ice Cream Shops You Need to Visit
This list is via Pure Michigan, with five additional shops added item, including the MSU Dairy Store, from me.
