Coney Detroit

Coneys and the Health-Conscious Consumer

We don't eat Coney dogs just because they're healthy.

Oh, no!

And we don't love Detroit just because it's health, either.

So it surprised us when the Physicians' Committee for Responsible Medicine chose Detroit Metropolitan Airport as tied with Dallas-Ft. Worth for healthiest airport fare. Even more to our surprise, a Coney Island was one reason why.

The report said, in part, "After two years in second place, Detroit increased its score by two points and tied with Dallas for first place. The addition of new low-fat menu items—like the vegetarian pita at National Coney Island Express—drives the Motor City into the number one spot."

OK, so while the dogs are good but not necessarily good for you, there are options ...

Obama Coney Island

Don't look now, but Flint's Clio Road Coney Island has a new name. It's been rechristened as the Obama Coney Island.

In a Flint Journal story, reporter Bryne Mickle quotes owner Mark Marku: "The last eight years everything went wrong. People are losing jobs, losing homes, losing everything. ... Hopefully, things will turn around."

Specialty of the renamed Coney? Not a dog, but the Obama Omelett: Four kinds of meat, two kinds of cheese, green peppers and onion.

Go, Red Wings!

Going to the Red Wings' hockey game tonight?

If you are, pick up a decorative tile, courtesy of National Coney Island. I went to a playoff game earlier this year and came out with a snappy Coney Island towel -- not that I snapped anyone wit it.

The 4" by 6" tiles will be a gift for everyone who attends.

Chicagoist Speaks up for Detroit's Coneys

There is a smackdown of sorts going on over in the home of the sport-pepper bearing Chicago dog, where Chicagoist has declared a carnivorous war on National Vegan Month.

It's weapon of choice? The Coney.

Chicagoist has declared November "Chicagoist Salutes the Coney Dog Month."

Turkey? Not even in the picture.

Thanks to Chicagoist for a little Detroit love, complete with references to the Motown favorites of American and Lafayette -- and even a recipe.

We'll eat to that!

Homemade Coney Recipe

The Preacher's Wife loves to cook -- and to write about it on her blog.

Lucky us.

She has posted a yummy recipe for homemade Coneys that sound about as good as the real deal. She says they live in Michigan, but about two hours from any Coney places -- hard to imagine in Michigan -- so this is her homemade solution.

You'll see that she uses the right ingredients, including Koegel's hot dogs.

Her secret is the ground-up cheaper hot dogs that go into making the sauce.

Thanks, Preacher's Wife!

 

Was That the Stanley Cup at a Coney Island?

If you were in the Greek Islands Coney Island restaurant on Tuesday morning and thought you saw the Stanley Cup, your eyes weren't deceiving you.

Tradition has it that National Hockey League players whose teams win the Stanley Cup get to spend a day taking the trophy to wherever hey want.

Tuesday was the day for Detroit Red Wing comeback Darren McCarty.

McCarty, his mom, his ex-wife, their kids and Stanley started the day with breakfast at the Greek Island. From there it was off to a barber shop, an ice cream store -- where they used the cup as a giant, shiny sundae bowl -- and other businesses in Birmingham, Mich.

Read about Stanley's trip -- and McCarty's road back, on the Hockey Hall of Fame Web site.

The photo is by Mike Bolt and is from the Web site.

NBC's Today Show Put Coneys to the Test

In all the excitement about having Ann Curry and Al Roker of NBC's Today Show in Detroit recently, the real point of their visit has been obscured.

They were in Detroit to settle, once and for all, the debate about Detroit's classic Coney dogs, specifically, American vs. Lafayette.

Roker said, "To be frank, Ann, this was a doggone tough assignment!" He really did.

American's Grace Keros said, "It's a friendly rivalry, it really is, even though we still claim our product's better, because it is."

Lafayette's Ali Al Homi said, "They like the food, they like the service, they like Lafayette the best."

Curry did not say much.

After sampling each dog, Roker made his decision.

He declared them both to be the best.

A New, Familiar Old Story

We read in the Livingston County Daily Argus and Press a story that sounds vaguely familiar somehow.

It is about a family that emmigrates from Greece to Michigan and opens a small clutch of restaurants.

Since arriving from Kalamata, Greece in 1969, Stamatopoulos family has opened several restaurants. They now have Coney Island resataurants in Pinckney, Dexter and Jackson and pancake houses in Saline and Tecumseh.

The reporter, Christopher Behnan, interviewed Bob Stamatopoulos over Coneys at the family's newest venture, the Pinckney Diner. The restaurant, which Behnan says is the town's new hot spot, created an estimated 35 jobs.

Coney Flats -- a New Twist

Leave it to Michigan, where Coney Island is a food and not a place, for people to innovate and invent with one of the favorite local foods.

We have seen (and eaten) Coney dogs, Coney pizza, Coney tacos and Coney Island potato chips.

In East Lansing, we found another variation at a place called Flats Grille, "Home of the flat sandwich."

The eatery is located at 551 E. Grand River Ave., just next to Flat, Blackand Circular, a record store, at 541.

In Flats Grille, you can order all manner of sandwiches and a pretty good shake.

The Coney Flat is unlike anything we've seen before. It is basically a cut-up hot dog with a beany chili inside a folded flour tortilla. The concoction is cut into wedge-shaped pieces and looks for all the world like a quesadilla at a Fourth of July picnic.

We gave Flats points for creativity and initiative and suggested that, for true Detroit authenticity, they find a beanless chili. Onions and mustard would help. too.

McCain, Coneys and Campaigning

Presumed Republican presidential nominee John McCain stopped off to press the flesh at the Kerby's Coney Island on Telegraph Road near Maple in Bloomfield Township this week.

There, he chatted with people having breakfast in this largely Republican area. Brent Coburn, a spokesman for  Deomcrat Barack Obama's campaign told The Detroit News, "Buying breakfast in Bloomfield Hills is the first thing John McCain has done right for the Michigan economy."

So, there.

One month earlier, McCain stopped off at a Senate Coney Island in Livonia and told diners, "It's time for meaningful sanctions (against Iran), either by the United Nations or by individual states acting together." Alex Lunberg of the Observer newspapers got the scoop.

That also was a breakfast stop.