Ep 10. Detroit: Motor City to Chow Town
- TV-G
- July 7, 2017
- 21 min
In this episode of Ginormous Food season 2, host Josh Denny travels to Detroit, Michigan to discover some of the city's biggest and most delicious dishes. Known as the Motor City, Detroit has a rich culinary history with a range of iconic dishes that showcase the city's diverse cultural heritage.
Josh starts his journey at Bouzouki Greektown, a restaurant that serves up a massive Greek-style lamb shank that weighs in at a whopping 4 pounds. The lamb is slow-roasted for hours until it's perfectly tender, and is served with a generous helping of Greek-style fries. Josh meets with the restaurant's chef, who tells him about the tradition behind this dish and how it's been a favorite among locals for decades.
Next, Josh heads to Vicki's Barbecue & Shrimp in Detroit's historic North End neighborhood. Here, he samples the "Porkzilla," a gigantic pulled pork sandwich that's piled high with meat and slathered in Vicki's famous barbecue sauce. It's served on a massive bun that's almost as big as Josh's head, and is accompanied by a side of sweet potato fries. Josh speaks with the restaurant's owner, Vicki, who tells him all about how this dish has become an institution in the community.
After indulging in some of Detroit's heartiest fare, Josh shifts his focus to the city's sweet treats. He visits Sweet Potato Sensations, a bakery that's known for its signature sweet potato cakes and pies. Josh tries the bakery's famous sweet potato cheesecake, which features a sweet potato crust and is topped with whipped cream. The bakery's owner, Jennifer, shares the story of how she started her business and how she's been able to keep it thriving for over 30 years.
Josh's final stop is at Motor City Soul Food, a restaurant that's been serving up Southern-style comfort food in Detroit for over 20 years. He chats with the restaurant's owner, who tells him about the menu's most popular dish: the "Big Mike" fried catfish sandwich. This sandwich is made with a massive fillet of catfish that's been deep-fried to golden perfection and served on a bun with all the fixings. It's a true test of Josh's appetite, but he manages to finish it off with a smile.
Throughout the episode, Josh marvels at the size and flavor of the dishes he encounters in Detroit. He's impressed by the passion and tradition that goes into each plate, and is left with a newfound appreciation for the city's diverse culinary scene. Ginormous Food season 2 episode 10 is a tribute to one of America's most iconic cities and its love affair with incredibly delicious food.