Suvai Sustenance

Rachel Ross  

With all the gloomy rain throughout this week, I decided to try one of my favorite comfort foods: Indian. I always pass by an Indian restaurant on State Street, right next to CVS, and decided to finally walk it. Armed with a camera and an appetite, the smell hit me first, as the warm cumin and curry pervaded the entire place, which was decorated with various Indian ornaments. I went in for the lunch buffet, and by no means did quantity outshine quality. The best part about Indian food is every flavor is complementary, so for those of us who have perfected the art of vertically stacking our food from buffets, Taste of India Suvai is for you. I filled my plate with everything: fried okra, butter chicken, Indian rice, spiced lentils, and veggie soup. This place had all the staples: naan, spiced rice, paneer, tandoori chicken, you name it.

The plate was barely large enough to hold the dizzying selection of foods

I was hesitant at first, but I spooned a mash of spinach and cooked chickpeas on my plate, wondering how this conglomerate of green and garbanzos was going to taste. It was food from heaven. Second to chocolate yet just as creamy and sweet. I wanted more. The only bad part about it was sharing it, as I dared my mother to take the first taste. After making a variety of “Mmmmm” sounds, she convinced me to try it, and it is now my favorite dish. It’s moments like that that make me wish I was from Dubai and could eat food like that all day. The complexity of flavors and intensity of colors continues to amaze me.

Spinach and cooked chickpea mash, and vegetable soup

The next item I tried was the soup, which I had to nurse for a while as it was so spicy. I probably ended up drinking more water than soup. I could actually see the individual peppercorns that were inflaming my mouth, but nothing was going to stop me from reaching the bottom of that bowl. Upon finishing, my sinuses were cleared and my stomach filled. I sat back and looked at my plate, wishing I hadn’t scarfed everything down in a flat five minutes. At around eight dollars per person, plus student discounts, this restaurant is perfect for either a quick lunch (it offers buffet take-out as well) or a formal dinner. For a hungry college kid hooked on ethnic food, it is the perfect meal deal.

Earthen Jar: Mostly Vegan, Always Tasty

Rachel Ross  

As a starving student on a college budget, it is my duty to seek out the best food for the best price. This week, I lunched at an old favorite: Earthen Jar. This vegan Indian buffet, located on S. Fifth Street, is conveniently nestled next to the well-known Jerusalem Garden. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to find due to the persistent construction happening next to the District Library, but it’s worth the search. Open for lunch and dinner, this quaint buffet offers everything from macaroni to spinach daal. When most people think of Indian food, platters like Tikka masala or butter chicken seem to spark a memory and tickle the tongue, but Earthen Jar takes a different route, serving vegetarian and vegan Indian food. I myself am a carnivore but the astonishing variety gave me no qualms about sacrificing one meatless meal. They offer classic Indian staples such as paneer (cheese), tofu with rice, and chickpeas in masala sauce. It is not difficult to find at least one course that will have you coming back for more. My personal favorite is the spinach lentils, which boasts the texture of split pea soup, but has a deeper, earthier flavor. Between the caramelized onions and the rich Indian seasoning that stains my plate yellow, it’s the perfect comfort food.

My meatless selections for the day

At a buffet, it can be difficult to manage portion sizes, yet at Earthen Jar, they charge by the pound. I find this more helpful, as I’m not looking to leave with a ten-pound food baby. While other Indian restaurants may charge eleven dollars per dish, Earthen Jar charges $5.99 per lb, which allows you to try as many dishes as you’d like. The staff is very nice as well. At first, I thought the only words the cashier could say were “thank you very much!”, but then I realized I had been complementing the food and the place the entire time, so that was all he needed to say. “We’re always looking for more fans,” he told me as he checked over the salads, while Bob Marley played in the background. I laughed. “And I’m always looking for excellent food!” Earthen Jar has certainly made my list of best eats for your money.

Buffet at Earthen Jar

Ann Arbor’s Twist On Cuban Cuisine

Jordan Korn  

Eve Aronoff’s latest creative culinary adventure, Frita Batidos, is a casual yet lively restaurant inspired by the spirit of Cuban culture. A drastic change from her previously more formal and expensive restaurant, Eve, this new endeavor offers a complete change of pace while still maintaining the highest standards for taste, quality, and creativity. The Latino inspired gourmet burger and shake restaurant, and a whole lot more, is quickly becoming an Ann Arbor hot spot. Located in the heart of downtown on West Washington Street, the 1,500 square-foot space decorated with white brick walls, white floors, and long white picnic tables creates the canvas upon which Aronoff’s bright vision comes alive.
As the “burger phenomenon” sweeps the nation and burger joints seem to pop up on every corner, Frita Batidos offers a refreshing new twist. The restaurant revolves around the combination of two traditional Cuban culinary elements; the frita, a Cuban burger made from spicy chorizo (beef, turkey, fish, or black bean are also available) served with shoestring fries on top, rests on a soft egg bun, and batidos, tropical milkshakes made with fresh fruit, crushed ice, and a drop of sweetened milk, with or without rum. “They just sounded so fun together!” exclaims Aronoff of the two dishes, which she had been daydreaming about for years before the menu was even created. Like burgers and shakes, the pairing just seemed to work flawlessly.
“Instead of putting a lot of things in, we focused on taking a lot of things out,” Aronoff says of the unique and modern restaurant design. “I wanted to create a backdrop so that when the people, music, spices, and food all come together it will make a whole composition,” she adds. Well, she has certainly succeeded -- the vibrant and convivial atmosphere of Frita Batidos is irresistibly fresh, modern, and inviting.

Image from Frita Batidos website

“I just wanted to create something delicious and then hoped that people would be happy with it,” Aronoff says excitedly of her vision for the restaurant. “I love that we have such a diverse group of customers – doctors, elderly couples, professors, little kids, fraternity boys and sorority girls, and even athletes – here, pretty much anything goes,” she adds as she hugs one of her sous chefs (the 4th or 5th time she has done so with an employee in the few minutes we have been sitting together). Aronoff was drawn to Ann Arbor because of its wildly diverse community, both in the people and the food. She has also always been very involved in the slow-food movement, which makes Ann Arbor the perfect location for her to work closely with local farmers and use fresh, seasonal, and local ingredients.
Cuban culture and cuisine have always had a strong influence on Chef Aronoff’s cooking ever since she spent time with her Grandmother in Miami learning about the history of Cuban food. The whole spirit and vibe of the Cuban culture inspired the style of the restaurant as well as many of the dishes and ingredients on the menu. However, Frita Batidos is more than just traditional Cuban cuisine. Aronoff has put her own spin on these classic dishes to create a unique and modern menu overflowing with flavor and savory ingredients.
One of her personal favorite items is the “best snack ever” – a layered dish in a cup comprised of coconut ginger rice, black beans, melted Muenster cheese, and cilantro-lime salsa. “It’s kind of a combination of all my favorite ingredients I ate in the kitchen all the time, so it’s super flavorful and you can whip it together in two seconds,” she claims of the pleasantly tangy dish. Another favorite is the frita, which offers a more delicate flavor profile and surprises your taste buds as you bite into the delectable layers of Cuban fries, muenster cheese, fried egg, tropical coleslaw, and juicy burger. Any and all of the dishes on the menu can also be served at the “Snack Bar Window” outside the front of the restaurant if you’re in a hurry! Some personal favorites of mine include the twice fried plantains tossed with cilantro-garlic butter and served with sweet chili mayo, and the tropical coleslaw. For dessert, the giant churros rolled in cinnamon and sugar and served with “chocolate espanol” for dunking are also amazing. A wide variety of specialty coffees round out the offerings including the café con leche, prepared with butter and a pinch of salt, which is especially tasty.
“I wanted to combine all the things I care about and create a fun space where we can take care of our customers and people can eat something that is creative and flavorful for a reasonable price,” says Aronoff of her goal to provide high quality food in a casual and inexpensive setting.
In a landscape overflowing with burger joints offering essentially the same fare, Frita Batidos stands out from the crowd. Whether you’re looking for a quick bite to eat, a late-night drink, or a full satisfying meal, Frita Batidos offers a fresh and inspired take on comfort food, with a Cuban flair.

Going Local in the Dorm: Is it Possible?

Charles Cohen  

It takes a lot to make any meal last in one’s memory, let alone a meal from a college dorm. But on Thursday, October 4th, the East Quad Cafeteria served up a meal that consisted of meats, fruits, and certain deserts, that all came from the state of Michigan. It was the best meal I have had since I have arrived on campus. A multiplicity of students sat down and enjoyed the food on that faithful Thursday.
Besides the vast amounts of options the café served, from a very sweet and spicy barbeque chicken to beef that was grilled to perfection for one heck of a burger, ending with some of Michigan’s apples that were topped off with caramel sauce (as a New Yorker, I understand the importance of supporting local apples) – these were some of the highlights of “Michigan Food Day.” And who could forget about the Vernor’s Ginger Soda or Faygo root beer floats with local vanilla ice cream-the Michigan cherry on top of the sundae.
In the few weeks I have lived here, I had never seen the café as crowded as it was that day. Every single seat at every table was filled with hungry students, enjoying the food of the Wolverine State. This clearly shows how the student body is supports eating local, which is better for both local economies and our health. Plus, it tasted better than what we usually get from some food-processing factory. I, for one, am both hopeful and excited that the University will do more local food events like this, as it brings awareness to the many great food products that the state can bring to the plate.

Dinning Hall Series: South Quad

Neal Richardson  

As a freshman, my only experience eating in a college dining hall before starting school at Michigan scared me. After attending orientation I thought to myself, “If all the food is as bad as what they served us in East Quad that weekend, I may starve.” I’m sure you all remember the eggs that must have been made from powder, the cantaloupe that was the most sickly shade of green you’ll ever see, and the baked chicken that tasted just plain funky.
If you’re anything like me, the prospect of eating like this daily made you want to pull your acceptance and never leave home, where the promise of home-cooked meals compares to college eating like Zingerman’s compares to Jimmy John’s. I feel your pain. Freshman, I have decided to give you a nice run down of the dining services at Michigan. In this series, you will learn where to use your meals, and where to avoid on post-game Saturday afternoons. I’ll start off with my usual go-to dining hall: South Quad.
South Quad is a good place to eat if you’re looking for the classics. With their endless pizza supply and consistent offerings of beef, chicken, and rice or pasta, South Quad will always have something for you. Their extensive salad bar and vegetarian options are sometimes more appealing than the advertised entrees, and they always have fresh fruit on hand.
What South Quad lacks in variety, they make up for with consistent quality. They normally have one selection of main entrées, located in 2 different lines. However, like most U of M dining halls, they have make-your-own sandwich materials, with the dining hall staple panini press. South Quad also boasts delicious hot dogs and surprising desserts. Though most dining halls have the same dessert menu —after eating the same apple crisp at West Quad, South Quad and MoJo— I have concluded that South Quad puts more love into their treats. Their cookies are gooier and their cheesecake is restaurant quality. Their dessert counter at South Quad is not one to miss.
The staff at South Quad is quite friendly, and their dining space is expansive, giving the place a very campus-like feel with good quality food to boot. Because of its all day hours, the student dubbed “Squad” never runs out of food, (except for their deliciously gooey chocolate chip cookies, which come out about every 10 minutes and are scooped up in 30 seconds) and there is never a MoJo-length line to get anything. If you go in during off hours, you may even find the dining hall pretty quiet and peaceful.
I highly recommend South Quad for a quick, quality meal. It may not be the most gourmet dining hall on campus, but it is certainly the most consistent, which is something a college student really deserves.

South Quad
Fall 2011 Hours:
Monday - Thursday: Continuous: 7:00 am - 9:00 pm Friday: Continuous: 7:00 am - 8:00 pm Saturday & Sunday: Brunch: 10:30 am - 2:00 pm, Dinner: 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Where: 600 East Madison

Quality: 7/10
Accessibility: 9/10
Variety: 3/10
Just Like Mom Used to Make it: 6/10
Overall: 6.5/10

Hidden Gem: If you’re looking for a place to spend those dining dollars, South Quad offers two great spots in Café ConXion and Ciao Down. The café is a great place for $1.50 made-to-order grilled cheese, a smoothie, or even just a coffee. Ciao Down is perfect for a delicious late night pizza and for those of you who are lucky enough to be in West Quad like me, they even deliver.