VEGAS FOOD NERD'S TREK ACROSS AMERICA - PART 2 BY VEGAS FOOD NERD
Traveling across the country is what this nerd got to do recently. A good friend from the music business decided to buy a recording console from a member of The Foo Fighters in Los Angeles and hired my husband and me to drive it from L.A. to commission the desk in its new home in Royal Oak, Michigan. In the last issue, I chronicled our first two stops. From Omaha, we decided to power through and get to Michigan the next day.
Andiamo’s One of my favorite places to eat when I was a Michigander was Andiamo’s. It was located just blocks away from the hotel we were staying at, and I had to go out of pure nostalgia if nothing else.
If you are not familiar with a meal at Andiamo’s, the most important thing to get is their signature Zip sauce, a topping for grilled meat like no other. When we used to dine here, our go-to order was their chateaubriand. Beef tenderloin carved tableside served with potatoes, seasonal vegetables, and this crave-worthy sauce. It was disappointing to see that they had eliminated it from the menu. So, then my husband opted to get the filet that came with the Zip sauce, and I ordered the veal tenderloin sliced with the mushroom ravioli. Each offering comes with either soup or their house salad. We chose one of each and started with their take on pasta Fagioli, their house salad, and a selection of breads. The pasta Fagioli was impressive with white beans, pasta, and Italian ground sausage. It was delicious just how I remembered it. The veal tenderloin mushroom ravioli was meltingly tender and presented in a unique diagonal pattern, a veal slice followed by a ravioli on a mushroom cream sauce. It was an utterly decadent dish. The filet was our least favorite, not bad, but nothing too special, but that Zip sauce? Yeah, it took me right back. If I could have taken a gallon of it home with me, I would have.
Leo’s Coney Island The morning before we had to deliver the legendary Trident console to its new home in Royal Oak, I had to make one stop for breakfast. There are several things that you can get in Michigan that you can’t get anywhere else. One of which is in pretty much every neighborhood in the mitten there is a Greek food infused Coney Island restaurant. Just blocks away from the Studio in Royal Oak is Leo’s Coney Island. Growing up in Michigan, my parents would take me to a place like this about once a week. My father, in particular, was really into the authentic Michigan coney experience. It was just before nine in the morning, but I had to get a couple of childhood favorites Leo’s famous Greek salad with a side of coney fries with cheese. The Greek salad is a simple combo of crispy iceberg, tangy pepperoncini peppers, sliced beets, Greek olives, chickpeas, and feta served with the signature dressing served with a warm piece of pita bread.
The coney fries aren’t pretty, but the plate of fries served with the toppings of coney island chili, and coney cheese is comfort food to my senses. My husband didn’t get it, but I didn’t care. I was transported back to my roots. Next visit to my home town I’ve got to get some Michigan egg rolls. Trust me; it’s a thing. Now go eat something.