What’s Cooking: Metro Detroit’s Top Food and Beverage Headlines for July 2024

Baobab Fare to expand in Detroit

James Beard Award-nominated Burundian eatery Baobab Fare is expanding its reach in Detroit. In March, owners Hamissi Mamba and Nadia Nijimbere bought a new property in East English Village at 16900 E. Warren Ave., where they plan to open a second Baobab Fare location. Then, in May, they announced that their food truck spin-off, Waka , will be getting a brick-and-mortar location in Eastern Market.

Waka has a street food-centric menu with offerings like stewed meats and veggies wrapped in chapati (a flatbread), along with brochettes — skewered meat kabobs grilled over charcoal. Waka will open at 2465 Russell St. , previously occupied by the iconic Russell Street Deli until 2019.

Puma roars onto the food scene over Memorial Day weekend

Javier Bardauil’s Puma had a soft opening in late May in Detroit’s Core City neighborhood. It featured DJ sets from local legends like Sheefy McFly in conjunction with the Movement electronic music festival.

Located a stone’s throw from Bardauil’s James Beard Award-nominated Barda, Puma takes a more casual approach to Argentine cuisine and drinks, with live music and a late-night bar.

The North End has a new, community-owned grocery store

A Black-led grocery store opened at 8324 Woodward Ave. in Detroit’s North End on May 1. The Detroit People’s Food Co-op has the mission of providing healthy food access to Detroit residents and is democratically controlled by its members.

The co-op also prioritizes buying from local growers, producers, vendors, and service providers to keep dollars circulating in the community. Lifetime memberships are $200 per person.

Leña brings Spanish-influenced cuisine to Brush Park

The new neighborhood-style bar and eatery from the owners of Shelby has opened in Detroit’s Brush Park neighborhood.

At the kitchen’s helm is Mike Conrad, previously chef de cuisine at Oak & Reel and Takoi . Selden Standard alumna and 2019 James Beard Award nominee Lena Sareini is pastry chef.

The menu features dishes inspired by Catalan and Basque cuisines — many of which are prepared over a hearth — plus wines and cocktails.

This story originally appeared in the July 2024 issue of Hour Detroit magazine. To read more, pick up a copy of Hour Detroit at a local retail outlet. Our digital edition will be available on July 8.

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