Corktown Dining: Bobcat Bonnie's

So many new restaurants have opened up in Detroit that it's hard to keep track of them all.  Brian and I have a short list that we want to try - eventually.  When I found out about Bobcat Bonnie's, however, I knew I had to go there ASAP.  What's so special about Bobcat Bonnie's?  It's a new gastropub in Corktown with 8 vegan and 6 vegetarian items on the menu.  Wahoo!  The article I read says that for every meaty menu item there will be a veg equivalent but the current menu doesn't show that.  Next time I'm in I will have to ask.  I was just so excited to see as many veg options as there were that I didn't even think about that!

It's located on Michigan Avenue, a block from the site of old Tiger Stadium.  It used to be Oblivion's Cafe.  I had never been to Oblivion's but from what I read, it sounds like the owners did a lot of work to get Bobcat Bonnie's updated and ready.  There is a lot of exposed brick, which is in really nice shape.  They painted the rest of the walls with black, grey, and pops of yellow.  There are tables for four, benches, and a few high long communal tables with stools.  The big windows let in a lot of light so it's nice and bright.  In the back are some longer tables and a few arcade games.  There's also a good sized bar area.

Brian and I went on Monday night, the first day it opened.  We sat at one of the long tables by the windows, looking out at Michigan Avenue.  I didn't take us long to decide what to order.  We went with the Mushroom Ceviche for an appetizer.  I've never had anything like it.  It was amazing!  I almost can't even describe the flavor combination.  It was lemony and bright.  The mushrooms and radishes were so fresh.  And the house made tortilla chips were some of the best I've ever had.  I highly recommend it.

Mushroom Ceviche

I'm a huge chickpea lover so I couldn't say no to the Chickpea Salad Sandwich.  It's mashed chickpeas with mustard, cumin, coriander, and dill served on a ciabatta roll.  Delicious.  For $3 you can add either soup or salad.  Brian and I each added the kale salad.  Oh man you have to try the kale salad!  It's a good size salad for $3!  (It's also on the menu for $8.50 as an entree size, which I might have to order sometime.  It's seriously SO good!)  

Chickpea Salad Sandwich

Kale Salad

Then there were the fries.  YUM.  The menu didn't have a V or VN next to them (very unlike me to order because of cross-contamination in deep-fryers) but I figured I would go out on a limb.  Next time I'll ask to be sure.  (Maaaybe - wink wink.)  They were flavorful and not greasy.  In fact, that's how everything was - a lot of flavor without too much oil, sauce, or dressing.  Brian had a burger and his plate was clean afterwards (no grease left behind).  

While we were eating we talked to both partners.  They were making the rounds, checking in on the diners to make sure everyone was happy and enjoying their meals.  Both of them told us that some of the vegetarian items can be made vegan (such changing veggie burger toppings or leaving the creme fraiche off the soup).  What's great is that they know what vegan means and they can educate their staff about how to give their diners a great meal.  

I'm really excited to have Bobcat Bonnie's in the neighborhood and look forward to making it one of our regular places! 

Bobcat Bonnie's
1800 Michigan Avenue
Detroit, MI 48216

Detroit Tough - Why I Love My Gym

It's about time I get down to writing a post about my favorite gym - Detroit Tough.  Although these days, Detroit Tough isn't just my favorite gym.  It's pretty much my favorite place.  It's where I go to find inspiration, healing, and peace.  Yes, peace among the smashing weights, loud yelling, and Slayer music blaring in the background.  Somehow I feel calm there.  It's my happy place.  My home away from home.

I started going in November and working with Coach Terra Castro, a former professional Triathlete.  She is an all-around amazing person and came into my life at just the right time.  She launched the Detroit Tough Endurance Program in November, which includes Run, Bike, and Swim classes.  I haven't attended any of these classes yet but am looking forward to doing so in the coming months, once I'm healed up. 

Also part of the program is my favorite class - Detroit Tough Mechanics.  It's an injury prevention/rehab class that targets mobility, body mechanics, strength, and balance.  As Coach Terra says, "we need to focus on the little details to keep our engine running properly."  

For me, this class has been key with my hamstring injury - both mentally and physically.  It has been better than any PT I've received.  We do band work (clams, monster walks, squats).  We use balance balls (hamstring curls, leg extensions, Supermans).  We use medicine balls (wall ball, Russian twists.)  She has us using the TRX system, lifting kettle bells, and using boxes for mobility drills.  One day we even got to beat the crap out of a punching bag with a baseball bat.  It's never the same class twice and it's always awesome.  

Coach Terra is kind, gentle, and understanding of what it's like to be injured.  She's been a lifesaver!  She will, however, push you to your limit.  We've done 5-minute planks.  100 calf raises per leg.  100 sit ups.  No whining, no excuses.  And I love her for it.  Nothing ever hurts my hamstring when I'm there.  She makes sure of it.  

Here are a few of the exercises we do in Mechanics.  (Photos courtesy of Coaches Terra and Roger.)

 Strength - Wall ball.  Squat and throw against the wall. It's harder than it looks!

Mobility - Under and over.  Knock one down and it's a 5-minute plank penalty.

Balance - Bird dogs with PVC.  Keep the hips stable or the pipe falls (5 push-up penalty).

Movement prep - Great rehab for my hamstring; also great for non-injured runners too!

Therapy - I wrote "hammy" on the bag and beat the crap out of it.  It felt amazing.

I'm looking forward to my hamstring being healed so I can take advantage of the rest of the Detroit Endurance Program, along with more of the classes that the gym has to offer. I'm especially excited to do Coach Roger's Detroit Tough class.  I actually did it once when Coach Terra and Coach Roger teamed up and combined their classes.  It was the most challenging boot camp-style class I've ever taken - and it didn't even involve pushing football sleds, tractor tires, or climbing walls like it usually does.  We did, however, army-crawl through a human plank tunnel in the dark while getting ice cold water poured over our backs as we listened to the same Slayer song for an hour straight.  So there was that.

The gym offers tons of classes.  Besides Detroit Tough, I'm excited to try TRX, Bricktown Bodies, and Bodyweight Warrior.  Right now I've been doing drop-in for Mechanics but once I know what's going on with my hamstring I'm going to start a 1-month membership that my parents gave me for Christmas.  (They're the coolest parents!)  Hopefully next month I can check out some of these other classes.  It's time to shake things up!

Detroit Tough is located in Corktown, behind Brooklyn Street Local and PJ's Lager House. Read more about Detroit Tough and what Coach Roger is doing with the gym and for the community in the January Hour Detroit issue.  Good stuff is happening in Detroit, ladies and gentlemen.  I'm happy to be a part of it.   Amazing gym, incredible people - coaches and clients alike.  

Plus they have super sweet hoodies. 

Photo courtesy of Brian Wolski

What gym do you belong to and why do you love it?