Food + Drinks

Kate Williams’ first restaurant, Lady of the House, captured national attention from magazines such as Food + Wine, GQ, and Esquire.

James Rigato spent his career cooking and investing in Michigan. He is the chef and owner of Mabel Gray in Hazel Park. He says he is an avid traveler, lover of dogs, and in pursuit of the perfect pizza.

Max Hardy is the owner and head chef of Coop Detroit, serving Caribbean fusion meals from locally sourced produce and ingredients from his Bahamian heritage, and Jed’s Detroit, a pizza, wings, and burger spot.

Born and raised in Garden City, Jared Gadbaw learned to cook at some of the most notable restaurants in New York. During his 10-year stint at Marea, he helped this Italian restaurant earn two Michelin stars and a James Beard award.

As a young teen, Omar Anani fell in love with food while working as a dishwasher. Now, in his 40s, he’s a James Beard-nominated chef and owner of Saffron De Twah, a popular modern Moroccan restaurant on Detroit’s east side.

Photos by Rebecca Simonov

Photography by Darrel Ellis and Rebecca Simonov

Detroit — a city that’s survived bankruptcy, urban decay, and decades of population decline — is somewhat unrecognizable from its darker days, partially now because of its burgeoning dining culture.