She Dines: Midtown, Corktown, and in My Lady’s Chamber
“Ladiez is pimps too…gon’ brush your shoulders off.”
Not my usual classic quote intro but necessary, as it was the first thing I saw when I entered the foyer of Lady of the House. I’m going to like this place, I thought for the second time. I first had the impression as my husband pulled into the parking lot and I realized we were across the street from Corktown’s FOLK Detroit (one of my favorite brunch spots) but now the feeling was palpable. Another two steps and I ran into the proprietor of Antietam as he was walking out. “Try the roasted carrots, he urged.” Yep, definitely going to like this place.
A few minutes later, my husband and I were sitting at the bar only to learn the kitchen was closed. Damn! Naturally, I made a mental note to come back the next day before ordering a glass of wine. All was not lost, however, as we were in the company of a perfectly awesome bartender. I determined not to rate the whole experience based on his friendliness, though, as I had learned my lesson from that kind of naivety in the past (see Apparatus Room post). Between jokes at the bar, I managed to take note of the ambiance at Lady of the House. Pineapples, which I learned are the international symbol of hospitality and welcome, are displayed prominently in various areas. The main dining room is intimate and includes a lovely fireplace. I should also mention that there is a picture of Ryan Gosling on an ottoman in the ladies’ bathroom, and not the romantic Ryan from The Notebook you might want to marry but the sexy Ryan from Crazy Stupid Love you might want to…well, nevermind. I’ve not met you Chef Kate but thank you, kindly.
Roasted carrots, napkin, and photo of Ryan Gosling by April Eileen
I did visit the next day. I was not jazzy, there was no babysitter, and it was not Saturday night. Instead, my mother and I were without a reservation and toting a three year old into a crowded eatery – every restaurant proprietor’s ideal situation, I’m sure. Christian, the general manager who I had been emailing about my book club, was super accommodating nonetheless. If you’re reading this, Christian, know that it takes a village to raise a future gastronome and the foodie force is strong with the little one. She prefers a well-seasoned lamb chop with herbed goat cheese and lightly sautéed kale to chicken nuggets any day. Certainly, she eats dirt and paper too from time to time but hey, it looks promising. Thanks so much for everything!
Anyway, mom, kid and I sat down and ordered a few small plates. While we waited for our food, we struck up a conversation with an “expat” couple sans their tiny tots, just in from their native Chicago. They were jazzy, they did have a babysitter, and based on every available indicator, it was still Saturday night to them. Always a good omen when former cool kids (i.e. cosmo kids before kids) from another awesome city decide to visit an establishment. Just as they were telling us what a must-try the salmon was, our roasted carrots, cucumber carpaccio, and potato donuts arrived. Verdict? Yums all around. The carrots were perfectly cooked and the hollandaise sauce was a lovely compliment, the cucumber with walnut romesco was fresh and flavorful, and what can I say about the potato donuts? Creatively conceived and beautifully executed, the donuts were perfection, and there was some kind of custard upon which they sat that could have been a dish unto itself. Delicious and a confirmation of the fact that I never had a potato I didn’t like (except in potato salad - it should be a capital crime to chill a potato and douse it with mayonnaise).
Potato donuts and fireplace by April Eileen
All in all, we had a wonderful experience. There are good things in store for Lady of the House. I’ll certainly be back and I hear that brunch is afoot too in a few months! Nothing I like better than a good excuse for day drinking. The only thing I might recommend is that they do a bit more with the curated cocktails but I suspect that’s in the works and as long as there is wine and a full bar, I’m happy. Loving this one, guys! Check it out and, as always, let me know what you think!
Love in all things,
April Eileen
