Food, film and books celebrated in metro Detroit events

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Dearborn Library virtually hosts cookbook author Alex Prud'homme

Dinner with President author author virtual event coming up at Dearborn Public Library.
Dinner with President author author virtual event coming up at Dearborn Public Library.

The Dearborn Public Library is hosting a virtual event at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday with author Alex Prud'homme on Zoom. Prud'homme newest cookbook is "Dinner with the President: Food, Politics and a History of Breaking Bread at the Whitehouse" (Penguin Random House, $35.) In the book, Prud'homme, reveals the tastes of 26 American presidents, how meals were prepared, by whom and how those choices affected food policy around the world.

Author Alex Prud'homme will appear virtually via Zoom at Dearborn Public Library.
Author Alex Prud'homme will appear virtually via Zoom at Dearborn Public Library.

The event will be broadcast in the Henry Ford Centennial Library Auditorium, 16301 Michigan Ave. in Dearborn. Attendees will also have the option of watching on personal devices. Prud'homme, who co-authored Julia Child's memoir "My Life in France," is the grandnephew of the late Paul Child, husband of the late revered icon of the culinary world. To register for the event, go to dearbornlibrary.org or call 313-943-2330.

Freep Film Fest documentary dinner and movie tickets

Barbecue glazed lamb chops will be served at Frame's Coldwater Kitchen dinner and a movie event.
Barbecue glazed lamb chops will be served at Frame's Coldwater Kitchen dinner and a movie event.

Tickets are still available for two special screenings of the Free Press documentary film "Coldwater Kitchen” at Frame in Hazel Park. Seatings are available on April 28 and April 30 for the dinner and viewing experience. The documentary is based on the culinary training program at Lakeland Correctional Facility in Coldwater, Michigan, following chef Jimmy Lee Hill and three of his students.

Coldwater Kitchen Michigan premieres as the opening night film at the 10th annual Freep Film Festival.

A four-course meal is prepared to feature chef Hill’s quinoa salad with collards and lime-yogurt dressing, Thai scallops with sweet potato mash, Asian barbecue lamb chops with rice, and a “Black Magic” cake for dessert.

On hand to discuss the film will be the documentary co-directors, Mark Kurlyandchik, Frame’s Editorial Director and former Free Press restaurant critic and Free Press Executive Video Producer Brian Kaufman.

Guests have the option of viewing the film first and then dinner or beginning with dinner and then the film. Tickets at framehazelpark.com are $85 per person, plus fees and tax. Wine and cocktail pairings are available. Frame, 23839 John R Rd., Hazel Park.

A few quick bites .....

Zana in Birmingham has started burger Sunday's.
Zana in Birmingham has started burger Sunday's.

Burger Sundays: Zana in downtown Birmingham has launched "Burger Sundays." From 4-8 p.m. on Sundays, the menu includes two burger options. The One Night Stand burger ($30) is a half-pound brisket short-rib patty topped with slab bacon, Raclette cheese, mushrooms, fried shallots and bourbon mustard on a Challah bun. Zana's Smashburger ($20) is a brisket short-rib with onions, monster sauce, American cheese, lettuce, tomato and pickles on an onion bun. You can add an additional patty and bacon for an upcharge. The Smashburger is also on Zana's happy hour menu served 4-6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. For info: zanabham.com.

Pizza Cat: Another metro Detroit location has opened at 30915 Ann Arbor Trail in Westland. It's the third metro Detroit Pizza Cat. Now in its soft opening phase, a grand opening will take place on April 20. During the grand opening, Pizza Cat will offer small cheese and pepperoni pizzas for $4.20 until 4:20 p.m. that day. Pizza Cat is known for its weird pizzas with different toppings like pizza with Flaming Hot Cheetos as an ingredient and those topped with pickles or the makings of a Reuben sandwich. You can also expect plenty of other toppings, including traditional ones like pepperoni and sausage, chicken and brisket. Pizza Cat is also known for pizzas with edge-to-edge cheese, sauce and ingredients, gluten-free and keto pizzas and chicken wings.

Fresh Thyme Market launches e-commerce

A new e-commerce shopping service launched at Fresh Thyme Market in Michigan, including Canton, Farmington and Troy. The Midwest-based grocer is offering a new, easier pickup option designed with savings in mind when shopping online. Fresh Thyme Market Pickup customers, according to a new release, will have more access to the market's fresh food and natural and organic foods at in-store prices online. Orders can also be canceled or edited until the selection happens. The service is available at Michigan stores. Pickup orders under $35 have a $4.95 fee. The fee for orders over $35 is $1.95, according to freshthyme.com.

"We are proud to be able to bring our great in-store shopping experience to life, online,” said Liz Zolcak, president of Fresh Thyme Market, in a news release. “With our new appealing and convenient e-comm experience, we can provide more shoppers with savings without sacrificing quality or freshness."

For Fresh Thyme Market Pickup information, go to freshthyme.com. The markets also offer delivery through Instacart.

Fresh Thyme Market is billed as a local, community-focused grocer. They have 71 stores in 10 states throughout the Midwest.

Contact Detroit Free Press food writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter. Subscribe to the Free Press.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Food, film and books celebrated in metro Detroit events