Southwest Detroit Restaurant Week is back: What to know
After a two-year pandemic pause, the Southwest Detroit Restaurant Week returns starting Friday. It's the third time for the event that was got its start in 2018.
The 10-day event runs through Oct. 9 and coincides with National Hispanic Heritage month, which began Sept. 15. During Southwest Detroit Restaurant Week (SWDRW) more than 20 restaurants will serve a traditional, authentic dish based on their culinary roots.
Different from the previous two SWDRW events will be the addition of a food truck rally. The rally takes place 4-10 p.m. Monday at Batch Brewing in Corktown.
The event got its start in 2018 and was co-founded by Juan Carlos Dueweke-Pérez of Featherstone, a marketing and public relations agency.
“Food is universal, but experiences and hospitality are not the same across cultures. That’s why this event matters so much, ” Dueweke-Pérez said in a news release.
What is the highlight of Southwest Detroit Restaurant Week?
While many restaurant weeks often offer dishes at certain price points, southwest Detroit restaurants have designed menus with tradition in mind. The restaurant owners and chefs will highlight their culinary roots with traditional and authentic dishes from diverse cultures. You will find menu items that hail from different states in Mexico and dishes from other Latin countries, including dishes from El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, and Venezuela. Some restaurants will prepare halal and vegan options. These dishes will be exclusive during restaurant week.
What are some menu items?
You will find items like Taqueria Lupita's mole rojo with a traditional mole sauce made from chilies and served over chicken mole with rice and refried beans. At Los Altos, the featured dish is chiles rellenos. It's a cheese-stuffed smoke poblano chile that's been battered, fried and topped with salsa ranchera and served with rice and beans. The featured dish at La Palapa Del Parian is Pozole Verde de Pollo prepared with halal chicken and spices from a recipe from the Mexico state of Jalisco. El Rancho Restaurant will feature guisadillas. These corn tortillas are dipped in guisado de res gravy and filled with cheese, shredded guisado de res, cilantro, onion, and El Rancho's spicy sauce. It's served with guacamole and rice.
Here's what is taking place at the food truck rally
The food truck rally is at Batch Brewing Co., 1400 Porter St. in Detroit's Corktown neighborhood, and features DJ music. There will be beer from Batch Brewing, non-alcoholic traditional Mexican coffee drinks by Cafecito Alvarez, and drink from each of the food trucks. Food trucks include El Parian, El Taquito Taco, Los Dos Amigos, and Tacos El Caballo.
The Wayne Health Mobile Unit will be on-site offering health screenings from 4-7 p.m. that also include flu and Covid booster shots.
What's the cost?
Each restaurant's featured menu item will vary. Most places will accept cash and credit cards but it's best to check with the restaurant in advance. Some places including the food trucks at the rally only accept cash. Many places also offer a full bar.
You'll find more information and a list of participating restaurants and food trucks at swdetroitrestaurantweek.com.
Contact Detroit Free Press food writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter.
Support local journalism and become a digital subscriber to the Free Press.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Southwest Detroit Restaurant Week runs Sept. 30 - Oct. 9: What to know