Mexicantown, Detroit

Here's your grocery list, if you're headed to Honey Bee market in Detroit: 

2 lbs of barbacoa

3 dozen tamales

3 lbs of chorizo (in casing)

5 packs of flour tortillas

5 packs of corn tortillas 

1 case of Modelo Negro 

1 bottle of red sangria

3 avocados

2 bags of corn chips, salted 

I know, it seems like a lot, but you can freeze whatever you don't eat right away. Better add a case of Victoria; you never know when you'll be back here again. 

Since you're here, you might as well stop at La Gloria bakery and grab a few pieces of sweet bread. It's on Bagley, but unless you're on foot and you can use the walking bridge, you've got to head back out to Vernor and go around to the other side of the freeway. You'll turn left on Vernor, but look to your right; on the other side of that massive railway underpass, you'll see the old train station towering in the distance. The renovation looks awesome so far. And just beyond the train station is Corktown and Michigan Avenue, which will take you straight into downtown. 

At La Gloria, grab bread, cookies, cakes. Any kind of sweet bread will do, but I'm partial to the lemon and cherry empanadas. Churros are good too. Pan de huevo is a classic. I'm not big on the little pigs, but grab those if you want. If you didn't grab bollios (small loaves of French bread) at Honey Bee, you can get them here too. 

You'll be hungry after seeing and smelling all that food, so go across the street and eat at Evie's. They're known for their tamales, but if they've got carnitas, get 'em. They usually only serve the special on Friday, but it's a large chunk of slow-roasted, seasoned pork shoulder, beans, rice, pico de gallo, and tortillas, for less than $10. Everything on the menu is good here. And the prices can't be beat. But don't go looking for a margarita because they don't serve alcool--that's French for alcohol. In case you haven't noticed, you're right next to the Ambassador Bridge which takes you over to Windsor, Ontario, Canada. 

You say you absolutely must have a margarita? Don't get your panties in a bunch. Make you're way back across the street to Mexicantown Restaurant, or Xochimilco's. They're serving up various flavors of margaritas in jumbo-sizes. Try the milanesa--thin steak, lightly dusted with crumbs and fried, topped with shredded muenster. Or get the Mexican sandwich--stacked layers of tender meat, rice, tortillas, and beans, topped with melted cheese. It's sort of a burrito deconstruct. 

When you're done fooling around, hurry up and get home. You've got groceries to put away!