Eat Beet Box

Emily Kastl  

What do you get when you combine a group of mega-foodies and some business-minded students with a passion for empowerment? Why, you get a health and organic-focused food cart, of course!

The Beet Box--a food cart that debuted its local, organic fare Friday at Mark's Carts--was conceptualized by WolverineCuizine’s very own Kay Feker, as well as Dan Morse, Alex Perlman, and a few other UofM students who were unsatisfied by the inability of restaurants to recognize the central importance of food to life.

We all know food is fuel for the body, but we’re social creatures too, not just hungry animals constantly on the hunt for satiety. For the Beet Box, that’s where food comes in. Have you noticed communities tend to revolve around food? Birthday parties, weddings, festivals—you name it and food is probably first on the guest list.

Enter, The Beet Box 5-Strong concept: StrongFood, StrongSelf, StrongCommunity, StrongRelationships, and StrongFarmers. Combine these five elements and you have the groundwork for a food cart devoted to healthy, organic meals that not only empower you—the lucky recipient of The Beet Box’s delectable dishes—but your community too.

You might be thinking to yourself, “I’ve been to a healthy food cart—what’s the big deal?” Well, I’m here to tell you what the big deal is. First of all, there’s a good chance that food cart was in a big city, not in the little-big city of Ann Arbor. Since the food cart culture here is pretty new, The Beet Box—along with seven other carts—will serve as one of the founding fathers, forever stamping the scene with its healthy fast-food revolution.

Secondly, when’s the last time your food cart rewarded you? Never? Yeah, I didn’t think so. If you are willing to be a part of The Beet Box’s movement of empowerment through food (doing 25 crunches, jumping rope, etc.) they will show their gratitude by giving you five percent off your meal. Tight abs and a scrumptious meal on the cheap? Sounds like a win-win to me!

Not only does The Beet Box give back to you, the customer, but they’ll also spread the wealth to the surrounding community by donating a portion of the sales profits to a local health cause. So if you find yourself going back for seconds (or fifths—we won’t judge) at The Beet Box, just think: you’re helping yourself and the community!

Starting from the ground up, The Beet Box raised over $14,000 through Kickstarter, donations, and grants to start their “Strong-Health Empowerment” revolution. Such successful fundraising undoubtedly speaks to the desires of people across the country for fast-food options like The Beet Box. Kay and her cohorts are obviously not alone in their belief of the incredible healing power of healthy, local, and organic food.

Mark’s Carts is just the beginning for The Beet Box. Ultimately, the little-food-cart-that-could will make its way around the country, leaving healthier people and communities in its wake.

Monahan's Seafood Market

Courtney Chandler  

Having a never-ending desire to explore local cuisine, I set out to find something to satisfy my craving for seafood. Luckily for me, the first place I tried was Monahan’s, and I have been going back on an almost-monthly basis ever since. Located in Kerrytown, Monahan’s Seafood Market offers fresh fish and seafood to the Ann Arbor area. Present-day owner Mike Monahan, who can still be seen working behind the counter, opened Monahan’s over 30 years ago in order to share his passion for fresh seafood with local customers. Monahan’s offers a wide selection of high quality fish and seafood, ranging from crab and shrimp to freshly filleted salmon. The range of products they have is quite impressive, especially given the fact that Ann Arbor is by no means a ‘seafood town’.

In addition to the stunningly varied cases displaying the day’s product, they also feature a simple yet innovative menu. Having been there multiple times myself, I can personally guarantee their food is fresh and delicious. Take the mussels for example (my personal favorite), steamed in a white-wine shallot broth and piping hot. Or try the ever-changing chowder, which differs on a day-to-day basis. Before going to Monahan’s, I was a chowder skeptic, and the idea of fish chunks in a soup, well...it wasn’t really my cup of soup. But after I tried their chowder, which always offers a new twist on an old classic, I was turned into a chowder believer. Their soup is always full of complex flavors, and is also served with a hunk of bread, perfect for soaking up the last few bites of flavor. In addition to their menu, they will fillet and cook any item in their display case in the style of the customer’s request, which provides a nearly endless number of culinary creations.

The environment of Monahan’s is as equally appealing as their food. Positioned in a quaint corner of Kerrytown Market & Shops, there is always a hustle and bustle of people. This activity, plus the friendly and inviting staff, creates a feeling of comfort that allows the customer to truly enjoy and appreciate their food. Even better, the reasonable pricing won’t break your bank, and makes eating freshly prepared seafood accessible to those even on a college student budget. Overall, the delicious menu and unbeatably friendly atmosphere makes Monahan’s a hidden gem within Ann Arbor’s local food scene.