Wok my world — West Bloomfield's Eurasian Grill has put together a new winter menu. The prices are up there, but the choices illustrate chef Michael Fung's talent for creative fusion cuisine, including jumbo frog legs ($9), pan-broiled whole English Dover sole ($34), India-style yellow curry Hawaiian Nairagi Striped Marlin ($23), teriyaki-style Norweigan salmon ($18), center-cut Madagascar filet mignon ($28), free-range rack of lamb ($31), Asian oven Polynesian roasted duck ($18), saffron crab and lobster ravioli ($23) and wokked Shanghai pasta ($16). Taste the creativity at 4771 Haggerty Rd. (Westwind Lake Mall), West Bloomfield; 248-624-6109.
Grills & boys — Chipotle Mexican Grill will celebrate the opening of a new location in Southfield with a fund-raiser benefiting Southfield High School's Project Woman and Project Manhood, mentoring programs that help youngsters with leadership, scholarship, and social and personal problems. All proceeds from the three-hour fund-raiser will benefit the groups. From 5 to 8 p.m., Dec. 7, at 26147 Evergreen Rd., Southfield.
Hunger fighters — St. John's Church in downtown Detroit is holding a food drive for Gleaners' Community Food Bank. As you enjoy the season of plenty, take a few minutes to pack up a box of nonperishable food and call for a pickup at 313-962-7358, or e-mail [email protected].
Eat the Page
There's something about TV's Barefoot Contessa. If you've seen Ina Garten's cooking show on the Food Network, you know how deceptively easy she can make cooking look. If you've seen one of her several cookbooks, you know how outstanding she can make food look. Her latest, Barefoot Contessa Cooks at Home ($36, Clarkson Potter), includes a recipe for one of the best-looking chocolate cakes ever. The photo of tomato mozzarella and pesto panini could make a dedicated carnivore salivate. If not, take a look at the rib-eye steaks with cornmeal-fried onion rings.
A Tasty Beverage
The latest entry to the extreme beverage market, Cocaine Energy Drink, has sent some retailers into a panic. Convenience giant 7-Eleven ordered the stimulant stripped from store coolers in California. If that isn't reason enough to like it, the manufacturers claim the drink is stronger than its buzz, with 350 percent more caffeine than Red Bull providing an alternative to the real thing. Though mostly available in Florida and Texas, you can order a picker-upper through Amazon. Cocaine's Web site, drinkcocaine.com, extols the drink's benefits. Any way you slice it, they've come up with a neat line.
It Works
If you have been using your power drill with the fattest attachment you can find to puree carrots for Junior's baby food, it time to drop a few bucks and invest in an immersion blender. This "stick" as it's called, is a simple way to turn leftovers into creamy soups (without the cream), whip eggs into froth for baking or for an omelet, or even to chop nuts. It's convenient, hand-held, and can allow you to mix hot ingredients without the usual explosive reaction you get whisking hot stuff in a blender.
Know of any new restaurants, special dinners or food-related events? Let us know. Send materials two weeks in advance to [email protected].
