>> Tati: I LOVE THIS SONG.
ONE OF MY FAVORITES EVER, EVER,
EVER.
>> Jason: WE AGREE ON THIS
>> Tati: YES, IT’S A GREAT
SONG.
WELL, IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A
PLACE WITH A CHIC ATMOSPHERE
THAT HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE,
THAT’S EXACTLY HOW CENTRAL
KITCHEN AND BAR GOT STARTED. MICHELLE OLIVER TAKES US THERE
MICHELLE OLIVER TAKES US THERE
TO DINE IN THE D.
>> Michelle: FROM JUICY
BURGERS TO SAVORY ASIAN SALMON
DISH, CENTRAL KITCHEN AND BAR
WILL MAKE YOUR MOUTH WATER.
>> THE MENU ITSELF IS SIMPLE BUT
IT’S DIVERSE.
YOU HAVE SOMETHING FOR
EVERYBODY, AN WE PIVOTED ALONG
THE WAY.
>> Tati: AND THAT’S EXACTLY
WHY BUSINESSMAN DENNIS ARCHER
JUNIOR WANTED TO CREATE THIS
RESTAURANT.
>> A CREW OF VERY GOOD FRIENDS
OF MINE, WE TAKE AN ANNUAL TRIP,
AND A LOT OF THE TRIP DURING THE
DAY IS SPENDING TIME SHARING
BUSINESS IDEAS THAT HAVE BEEN
WORKING DOWNTOWN, DAN GILBERT
BRINGING PEOPLE DOWNTOWN.
AND I NOTICED THERE IS NOWHERE
TO GO, WHERE I REALLY WANT TO
GO.
>> WHEN HE FOUND THIS SPOT IN
THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN DETROIT,
HE KNEW HE HAD HIS PLACE.
>> WE FELL IN LOVE WITH THIS
SPOT AS A CHILD.
I USED TO RUN ERRANDS FOR A LAW
FIRM AND COME TO THIS BANK TO
DEPOSIT CHECKS.
SO I WAS FAMILIAR WITH THIS
LOCATION WITH THE BANK.
>> HE WANTED TO PAY HOMAGE TO
THAT HISTORY.
THE RESTAURANT’S DESIGN --
>> THERE WAS THE DEPOSITORY SAFE
THAT IS STILL THERE, IT’S SEALED
SHUT.
WE RESEARCHED AND CAME UPON
THESE TWO PICTURES.
SO ONE I BELIEVE, THEY BOTH ARE
AROUND FROM 1915 DETROIT.
WE WANT THE MAINTAIN THE VISUAL
OF THE RAW PILLAR.
LIKEWISE, THE EXPOSED CEILING,
YOU WILL STILL SEE THE
IMPERFECTIONS IN THE CEILINGS,
WHICH WE WANT IT TO BE, THERE
IT’S VERY MUCH PART OF THE
CHARACTER SPACE.
>> AND IN THE NAME ITSELF.
>> ACROSS THE STREET FROM WHERE
WE ARE NOW, USED TO BE CENTRAL
MARKET, WHERE ENTREPRENEURS FROM
ACROSS METRO DETROIT WOULD COME
AND SELL THEIR WEARS.
SO THAT’S HOW WE CAME UP WITH
OUR NAME, CENTRAL KITCHEN AND
BAR.
>> Michelle: WELL, THIS IS A
BEAUTIFUL SPREAD, SO GET INTO
THE MENU.
WE’RE GOING TO START WITH THEIR
ADVERTISERS.
THIS IS THEIR CALAMARI, AND IT’S
KIND OF A DIFFERENT TAKE ON IT.
SO THEY HAVE FRESH SNAP PEAS.
THEY HAVE PEPPERS, JALAPENOS TO
GIVE IT A BIT OF A KICK,
ORANGES, CASHEWS TO GIVE SOME
CRUNCH, CILANTRO, AND IT’S ALL
IN A SWEET SOY GLAZE.
ANOTHER POPULAR WAY TO START OFF
YOUR MEAL ARE WITH THESE WINGS.
NOW, THEY’RE TOSSED IN
MEDITERRANEAN SPICES, AND THEY
ARE TOSSED WITH MARINATED FETDA,
OLIVES, AND LEMONS.
AND ROUNDING OUT THE STARTERS,
WE HAVE THESE HERB FRIES.
SO THE ROSEMARY AND THYME ARE
FRIED RIGHT ALONG WITH THE
FRIES.
AND THEY COME WITH A TRUFFLE
AIOLI OR A BISTRO SAUCE TO DIP
THEM IN.
OVER THE PAST YEAR THEIR BRUNCH
HAS BECOME VERY POPULAR, AND
THIS AVOCADO TOAST IS ONE GREAT
OPTION FROM THAT MENU.
SO IT STARTS WITH A PIECE OF
MULTIGRAIN BREAD.
THEN YOU HAVE AN AVOCADO SPREAD.
IT’S TOPPED WITH A SALAD MADE
WITH GRILLED ARTICHOKE, ALOOKING
LARK FETEBACK CAPERS, AND RED
ONIONS.
AND IT’S ALL FINISHED WITH A
SUNNY-SIDE UP EGG.
MOVING ON TO AUNT TRAYS, CHECK
OUT THIS NORWEGIAN SALMON.
SO IT’S BLACKENED WITH ASIAN
SPICES, AND IT IS SERVED ON TOP
OF A GREEN COCONUT CURRY SAUCE
WITH STIR-FRIED VEGGIES AN ASIAN
NOODLES.
AND FINALLY, A FAVORITE HERE,
THEIR HOUSE BURGER SOME THIS IS
DONE A BIT DIFFERENTLY.
THEY HAVE BEEF BACON ON THIS AS
WELL AS A TOMATO JAM, GIVING IT
A LITTLE BIT OF SWEETNESS AND
SPICE, AND IT ALSO HAS CHEDDAR
CHEESE, PICKLES, THEIR BISTRO
SAUCE, LETTUCE, ALL IN A BRIE
YOASH BUN WITH HOMEMADE CHIPS ON
THE SIDE.
IRK OKAY, MICHELLE.
WE’RE OFFICIALLY ALL HUNGRY IN
HERE.
>> YEAH.
>> Tati: SO I KNOW WE HAVE
SOME QUESTIONS, BUT THAT
AVANTE-GARDE TOAST EGG, IS THAT
A REGULAR EGG?
>> Tati: YEAH, SO TAMMY WAS
TELLING ME THAT JASON WAS ASKING
ABOUT IT.
IT IS A REGULAR EGG.
IT MIGHT BE A JUMBO-SIZED EGG,
BUT YEAH.
>> Tati: EVERYTHING LOOKS
AMAZING.
IT REALLY DOES.
SO ARE THEY DOING ANYTHING
SPECIAL FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH?
>> Michelle: YES, AS YOU KNOW,
THIS IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH,
THEY’RE GOING TO BE FEATURING
BLACK-OWNED BRANDS.
THEY ALWAYS CARRY THESE BRANDS,
BUT THEY’RE PUTTING AN EXTRA
EMPHASIS ON THEM, SO WE HAVE
THIS ONE FROM BROWN ESTATE.
WE ALSO HAVE CHARLES WOODSON’S
WINE.
AND BLACK GIRL MAGIC ROSÉ.
SO A LOT OF WAYS TO SUPPORT
BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES.
>> Tati: I HAVE HAD THE BLACK
GIRL MAGIC WINE.
IT’S REALLY GOOD.
SO LET ME ASK YOU, THIS HAVE
THEY CHAINED ANYTHING UP SINCE
COVID?
>> YES, SO AS YOU KNOW, WE USED
TO GO THERE DURING THE WEEK TO
DO THE GREAT LUNCH SPOT, I KNOW
RHONDA AND EVROD LOVED GOING
THERE AND GETTING THOSE TRUFFLE
FRIES.
BUT BECAUSE OF COVID, AND THE
FACT THAT NOT AS MANY PEOPLE ARE
DOWNTOWN, THEY HAVE ADJUSTED
THEIR HOURS, SO NOW THEY’RE OPEN
THURSDAY AND FRIDAY FOR DINNER,
FROM 4:00 UNTIL 10:00 P.M., AND
THEY’RE OPEN SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
AND THEY REALLY HAVE GOTTEN A
BIG BRUNCH CROWD, BECAUSE OF THE
CHANGE IN HOURS, AND THAT’S
WHERE YOU CAN GET THE DELICIOUS
AVOCADO TOAST WITH THE GIGANTIC
EGG.
>> Tati: YES, EVERYTHING IS SO
GOOD.
MY FAVORITE IS AN APPETIZER.
IT’S LIKE THIS REALLY
WELL-SEASONED STEAK BITE.
>> Tati: OH, I WANT THE TRY
THAT NEXT TIME.
>> YOU HAVE TO HAVE IT.
IT’S A GOOD PLACE TO GO IF
YOU’RE HEADED DOWN TIME,
CATCHING A SHOW.
FOOD IS GREAT.
SERVICE IS GREAT SOME WHERE IS
CENTRAL KITCHEN AND BAR LOCATED.
>> Michelle: YEAH, THE REASON
IT’S SO GREAT TO DO GO DOWNTOWN
BECAUSE IT’S LOCATED BASICALLY
IN THE CENTER OF DOWNTOWN JUST
OUTSIDE OF CAMPUS MARTIUS IN THE
FIRST NATIONAL BUILDING.
>> Tati: THAT’S RIGHT.
GREAT LOCATION.
FUN DAY.
WE USED TO SHOOT OUT THERE
>> Tati:.
>> Michelle: I KNOW.
WE SHOULD GO THERE SOME TIME.