Shaq attack! NBA star bringing chicken chain to Michigan
Another chicken chain headed to Michigan
A fast-casual chicken chain with some sports star power is expanding into the Midwest and making its first stop in Michigan.
Big Chicken restaurants from NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal and several partners has announced an agreement with H&D Group Investments to bring 20 franchises to Michigan.
The first one is under construction at 11476 North Linden Road in Clio. Others are expected in metro Detroit, Ann Arbor, Lansing, Flint, Saginaw and Mt. Pleasant.
Big Chicken was founded in 2018, and its menu is built around O’Neal’s childhood favorites paired with trendy flavors, according to a news release. Anchoring the menu are fried chicken sandwiches, including a Nashville Hot-style sandwich and the Big & Sloppy, which is topped with with macaroni and cheese, fried onions and roasted garlic barbecue aioli. Other offerings: chicken tenders, Cheez-It-crusted macaroni and cheese, sweet potato fries and handmade ice cream shakes.
Work is underway on more than 300 Big Chicken locations nationwide. Ten locations are currently open in airports, event arenas and Carnival Cruise Ships. For more information, visit bigchicken.com.
Michigan company rolls out fall cocktail flavor with a kick
It’s the season for pumpkin-spiced everything from candles to coffee to baked goods and, yes, booze. Cask & Kettle, a Battle Creek-based company known for its pod-style booze varieties for use with single-cup coffee makers, has introduced a pumpkin spice pod with a kick of booze.
The pumpkin spice decaf k-pods, spiked with vodka, can be brewed through single-cup coffee makers or with hot water. You can top the hot drink off with creamer or whipped cream with a dusting of cinnamon. You can also serve it chilled. Cask & Kettle partners with Temperance Distilling for its brewed pod-style cocktails which are sold in package of five for about $15 at liquor stores and some Meijer stores. For store locations, go to caskandkettleusa.com.
Cannelle Farmington set to open
A Cannelle by Matt Knio is expected to open soon in downtown Farmington. The patisserie from chef Matt Knio has three southeast Michigan locations and is known for its array French pastries as well as croissants, breads, cakes and tarts. The Farmington location is expected to open Sept. 5 on Grand River.
Earlier this year, Midwest Living magazine named Cannelle Patisserie best bakery in the Midwest. Other Cannelle locations are in Ann Arbor, Birmingham and Detroit. For more information, go to cannelledetroit.com.
Apple picking outing celebrates Rosh Hashanah
During Rosh Hashanah, the celebration of the Jewish new year, it's customary to dip apples in honey. This year, Yad Ezra, southeast Michigan's only kosher food pantry, has created a special event ahead of Rosh Hashanah, which begins at sundown Sept. 15.
For the first time, the Berkley establishment is hosting an event to allow families to pick their own apples. It takes place 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Sept. 10 at Blake's Orchard and Cider Mill, 17985 Armada Center Road in Armada. Participants will board a train and head to the orchard to pick apples. Afterward, they'll meet Blake's Barnyard Funland. Participants can keep all the apples they've picked or donate a portion to the food pantry.
Individual tickets are $15 for one person or $30 for a family ticket of two or more . Tickets are available at yadezra-bloom.kindful.com.
A few quick bites …
Learn about a plant-based lifestyle
The seventh annual Fall VegFest put on by nonprofit VegMichigan and presented by food truck Shimmy Shack takes place 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 10 in downtown Farmington at Riley Park, 33113 Grand River.
VegFest is a chance to learn about plant-based eating and sample vegan food. It will feature more than 30 vendors, including restaurants such as Chive in Farmington and food trucks like Shimmy Shack. A presentation on healthful eating by Marc and Kim Ramirez starts at 11 a.m. at the Farmington Civic Theatre. The Ramirezes will tell their story of how Marc, a former University of Michigan football player, lost 50 pounds and regained his health through dietary changes. In addition, Oliver Bosnjakovski will speak about adopting a plant-based diet after suffering a heart attack.
Other events include a free Bodhi Yoga class at 10 a.m. ahead of the festival opening, music and dance performances, and activities for children. More event details are available at vegmichigan.org.
Rosh Hashanah menu at Zingerman’s Roadhouse
Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown Sept 15, and Zingerman’s Roadhouse is offering a special menu Sept. 15-17 for the Jewish new year. The menu, with varying prices, includes:
Chopped liver, served with hard-boiled eggs, bagel chips and topped with caramelized onions.
Creole matzo ball soup
Hungarian osso bucco served with mashed parsnips and garnished with fresh herbs.
Alsatian sweet and sour haddock served over rice with roasted carrots.
Apricot rugelach or honey cake for dessert.
For reservations and the full menu go to zingermansroadhouse.com.
Wine dinner features Spanish wines
Oak & Reel in Detroit’s Milwaukee Junction neighborhood is planning a wine dinner hosted by Kariann Fifer, the restaurant's new wine director. The dinner, 6-10 p.m. Sept. 11, will feature Sean Sutton of Vino Vi & Co. showcasing wines from small Spanish wine producers. Oak & Reel chef and owner Jared Gadbaw will serve a five-course dinner to be paired with wines from Catalonia, Castile-León and other regions of Spain.
Tickets are $175, all-inclusive. Oak & Reel is at 2921 E. Grand Boulevard in Detroit. For tickets: explorestock.com.
Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news to: [email protected]. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter. Subscribe to the Free Press.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Shaq attack! NBA superstar Big Chicken chain to Michigan